Which practice best demonstrates good eye contact?

• A. The speaker's eyes move slowly around the room in a deliberate, unhurried pattern
• B. The speaker reads slides and avoids looking at the audience
• C. The speaker speaks with no pauses
• D. The speaker interrupts frequently to emphasize points

Answer: (A)

Good eye contact signals engagement, confidence, and connection with the audience. The most effective approach is to move your gaze around the room in a natural, deliberate way, so your eyes scan different audience members without rushing or fixating on one spot. This steady, unhurried pattern makes people feel seen and involved, and it also gives you quick feedback from listeners.

That pattern—eyes moving slowly around the room in a deliberate, unhurried pattern—best demonstrates good eye contact because it balances visibility with comfort, including as many listeners as possible and avoiding any sense that you’re reading from notes or avoiding the audience.

Reading slides and avoiding the audience reduces eye contact entirely, which weakens connection. Speaking with no pauses concerns pacing, not eye contact. Interrupting frequently disrupts flow and attention, which also undermines the opportunity to maintain natural eye contact with listeners.