“The eyes are the mirror of the soul and reflect everything that seems to be hidden; and like a mirror, they also reflect the person looking into them.”
Paulo Coelho, the Brazilian lyricist and novelist, is best known for his book “The Alchemist.∗” While he’s not a business leader per se, his insights into human nature are spot-on for leadership. This quote beautifully captures the power of eye contact in human interaction.
In leadership, as in literature, the eyes tell a story. They’re like those little text bubbles in comic books, but instead of “POW!” and “BAM!”, they’re saying “I’m listening” or “I’m as lost as a penguin in the Sahara.”
* * *
Make eye contact.
But never stare, look around the room, but then always come back to the person’s eyes when they are making a point. Making strong eye contact helps you focus on their conversation and helps you notice their lies or honesty.
Think of it as a dance. Your eyes are doing the cha-cha across the room, but they always come back to your partner. It’s like you’re saying, “I see you, I see the room, but you’re the most interesting thing here.” Unless, of course, there’s a fire. Then, by all means, stare at that.
Strong eye contact is your superpower. It shows you’re engaged, confident, and not checking your phone under the table. (We all know that trick, and no, holding your phone up to your forehead doesn’t count as eye contact.)
But be careful not to overdo it. Constant, unblinking eye contact doesn’t say “I’m listening intently.” It says “I’m imagining how you’d look stuffed and mounted over my fireplace.” Creepy, not leader-like.
The trick is to maintain eye contact about 60-70% of the time. Any less, and you look distracted or shifty. Any more, and you look like you’re trying to win a staring contest. Mix it up. Look at their eyes, then their nose, then briefly away, then back to the eyes. It’s like a facial features scavenger hunt.
Here’s the real secret:
When you make eye contact, you’re not just connecting – you’re detecting. You’ll start to pick up on micro-expressions, those tiny facial twitches that reveal what people are really thinking. It’s like having a built-in lie detector, minus the awkward wires and electrodes.
So, keep your eyes on the prize – and by prize, I mean the person you’re talking to. Unless they have spinach in their teeth. Then maybe focus on their forehead for a bit.
And here’s a Pro Tip:
If you find yourself in an impromptu staring contest, throw in an exaggerated smirk. It either breaks the tension or convinces them you have an uncontrolled resting face. Either way, you’re off the hook.
∗ link to the Alchemist Book: https://amzn.to/3BGuOl7
BK8BK8XO, I’ve seen this name popping up. Decided to give it a shot and am not disappointed. So far so good! Check em out!: bk8bk8xo
Hey guys, checked out winzircasino and the selection of games is impressive! So many choices! I just hope the payout is fast if I win. Will update you!
Hello,
Sophia from Top Talent VAs reaching out again about our VA services.
If you’re available, let’s schedule a call to discuss.
Please provide the best number to contact you.
Thank you.
Okay, jljl1login is my go-to for quick access. The login process could be smoother, but once you’re in, it’s all good. Just sayin’!
Placed a few bets on 747bet earlier. Not feeling so lucky today, but laban pa rin! It’s all about the entertainment, right?
Been playing around on y777game. It’s alright, nothing groundbreaking. Perfect for when you just wanna chill and kill some time, ya know?
Hello there
Our company provides virtual assistant services to do admin tasks, Cold calling, Social media management, etc.
Need help with any of these? Let’s schedule a Zoom meeting to discuss your needs.
Hi,
Hope you’re doing well.
I’ll keep this brief. I can place a link to kevinleigh.com on 5 genuine local business websites (DR30+), completely f.ree. In return, I’d appreciate links to 5 different of my client sites from your side — a simple, mutual SEO benefit.
If this sounds of interest, I’m happy to share the site list for your review.
Best regards,
Emma
Hi there,
This is Jasper from Virtual Hand Support. We provide Virtual Assistants to help with:
– Managing social media accounts
– Cold calling
– Administrative support
– Customer service
– Data entry
– Prospecting
– Calendar management
– Email management
– Market research
– Content creation
– And much more
Respond YES to schedule a Phone call and STOP to unsubscribe. Thank you!
Hi https://kevinleigh.com/contact-2/,
I noticed that your website has great potential but is not currently ranking in the top search results on Google.
I specialize in SEO and can help your business rank in the Top 3 positions, get more visibility, and ultimately increase your customer base — guaranteed!
Would you like me to send a quick SEO proposal with pricing and strategies?
Best regards,
Ashwani
Hi,
I hope you’re having a great week.
I wanted to explore a potential SEO collaboration. I can offer links to kevinleigh.com from 5 well-maintained local business websites (DR30+), with no fees involved. In exchange, I’d appreciate links to 5 different of my client sites from your side — a balanced, mutually SEO beneficial arrangement to boost your website ranking on Google.
If this is something you’d consider, I’d be glad to share the site list for your review.
Kind regards,
Clark
Hello https://kevinleigh.com/contact-2/,
I checked your website. You have an impressive site but ranking is not good on Google, Yahoo and Bing.
Would you like to optimize your site?
If you’re interested, then I will send you SEO Packages and strategies.
Can I send?
Warm regards,
Ashwani