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The Eyes Have It

      Your eyes, a very important visual aid, can set the mood of your performance, and this mood tends to remain till the end of the story. Your eyes then must show interest and excitement so that the audience will look forward for your story.

Avoid squinting your eyes while telling a story – this gesture creates a mood of distrust.

            It’s important that your listeners see your eyes. Didn’t you feel uneasy talking with a person wearing dark glasses? You see all of his face and only his eyes are covered - yet you are irritated that you can’t see his eyes. We know instinctively that it is through the eyes that we discern the person’s true feelings.

I once listened to a lady who wore sunglasses while delivering a lecture. Her topic was interesting and informative. But for the first 30 minutes of her talk, most of the audiences were betting on her reason of wearing the shades. This ruined much of what turned out to be an informative talk.

So avoid wearing eyeglasses while you tell stories. Let the audience see your eyes and be sure what they see is inspiring.

          The eyes are not easily manipulated though; they show your authentic feelings. They are most important but hard to control. They reflect what you truly feel inside. They show whether you are confident, in doubt, or excited about the story. Thus you must develop your conviction and excitement about the story. Otherwise, some flash of doubt or diffidence will show in your eyes and dampen the audience’s interest.

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