Bites and Scanning Techniques

Eye contact is important. You want to look at your audience approximately 85 to 95 percent of the time when presenting. While you pace your spoken ideas, it is also crucial that you look at your audience just before and after an idea is delivered. The eye contact you make with your audience before you deliver an idea – the first pause – makes you appear to be thinking about what you are going to say, and helps them anticipate it. The eye contact you make with your audience after you deliver an idea – the second pause – gives the audience the impression that you are looking for their reaction, their understanding, and their permission to continue.

There are two proven methods that help you shift from making eye contact with the audience and referring to your notes. Though both methods might feel strange to you, they look perfectly natural to the audience. Practice by videotaping yourself!​