How to Use Eye Body Language to Build Trust and Be Liked
The subconscious sense of sight is crucial for building trust, and keeping eye contact can go a long way in building relationships. If you avoid looking at someone for more than seven seconds, you'll come across as insincere or aggressive. Aim to maintain eye contact for at least seven to 10 seconds throughout a conversation, even if you're speaking to a group. In fact, 70 to 80% of conversations should be held in this manner.
Changing your gaze can tell your audience several things. If you maintain eye contact with a person, they'll feel important, respected, and trustworthy, which means they'll be more likely to share a similar sentiment. Another powerful tool is the ability to monitor other people's body language. While eye contact isn't the most obvious sign of confidence, it's an important element of nonverbal communication.
When meeting a person, you should always maintain eye contact and keep the handshake firm. Avoid staring contests, twitching or fidgeting. Keeping eye contact and maintaining a warm, sincere smile is the best way to build a rapport with someone. Be sure to use firm handshakes and a firm, non-defensive stance to show the other person that you're interested and confident.
Keeping eye contact and maintaining interest in someone's conversation can make a huge difference. People who maintain eye contact are likely to be trustworthy and likeable, says Dr. Lillian Glass, a behavioral analyst and body language expert who has worked with the FBI on deception. To build trust, keep eye contact steady and use facial expressions to show emotion and concern. A chameleon effect is also known to make people likelier.
While you're talking to someone, don't try to mimic their facial expressions. Your facial expressions tell a lot about how engaged you are in the conversation. While some people blink or look away, staring is not considered a good sign. Instead, make sure your body language indicates that you're paying attention to what they're saying. It's also important to pay attention to the rest of your body language. When you're listening, make sure your head is facing the speaker and your arms and legs aren't crossed.
When you're in a meeting, make sure to maintain eye contact. You can also make use of gestures to show interest. For example, a firm handshake is the correct way to greet someone when meeting for the first time. You should also make eye contact when talking to someone, since this will show that you're listening to them and are interested in what they're saying.
When you're talking with someone, you can show that you're listening by smiling and nodding. These nonverbal signals show that you're paying attention to what they're saying. However, don't overdo it, as they'll seem less genuine. A good rule of thumb is to listen and don't overdo it, as smiling too much can make you appear insincere.