Why Eye Contact is So Important

As an executive coach I am in the business of helping clients to improve their ability to connect and relate to others. I try to model the behaviors that drive personal connection when interacting with clients both in person and online.  The majority of the coaching work that I have been performing is conducted over video using Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet.  While nothing can replace face to face in person coaching in terms of reading body language and connecting physically with a client, video coaching works incredibly well. 

Eye contact plays a crucial role in communication and can significantly enhance relationships and personal connections. Eye contact fosters a sense of trust and sincerity. By making eye contact you show that you are actively engaged in the conversation and that you are genuinely listening. When you make eye contact you enhance your ability to empathize with others which can provide others with the comfort level required to be more vulnerable. Some of my work involves working cross culturally where English might not be the native language of my client. Continuous eye contact and non-verbal communication plays an even more important role in those interactions. In many culture, eye contact is a sign of respect and sincerity.

In summary, eye contact serves as a powerful tool for enhancing relationships and personal connections by fostering trust, improving communication, and building a sense of mutual understanding and empathy. It contributes to the overall quality of interactions and helps create a positive and lasting impression.

Making Better iContact

While I can read a lot of non verbal ques when on a video coaching call, one particular fault with video calls is the fact that we stare at the screen looking at the other person while the camera is actually broadcasting our image from a different vantage point.  Most laptops and webcams are mounted at the top of the screen or monitor.  The result is that it always appears that I am looking down versus looking directly into the eyes of my client. 

I recently found a solution that improves eye contact and engagement.  The product is called iContact Camera Pro and it is a unique webcam.  While the webcam mounts on the top of the monitor, the actual camera is on a thin arm that swings down and places the camera in the center of the screen.  This way I look directly into the camera while looking at my screen and talking to my clients.  iContact was launched as Kickstarter crowdfunding project and is now commercially available.  I am impressed with the picture quality of the camera and even the sound quality is quite good although I will stick with my Yeti Blue professional microphone.  Having the right technology makes a big difference in my line of work.  It is important that I make a positive impression on clients and prospects especially since so much of my work has moved to the virtual world at this point.

There are several advantages of the iContact webcam beyond just video calls.  If you ever record videos where you are reading from a teleprompter, the iContact webcam is perfect for recording video scripts as you stare at the script with the camera in front of the text.  This makes for much more engaging videos.  According to the iContact website there are four main advantages of using an iContact camera.

Advantages According to iContact

EYE CONTACT

Studies show people prefer video calls that facilitate eye contact 88% more than those that don’t.

MORE ENGAGEMENT

Based on clinical research, higher levels of eye contact make you appear more reliable, engaging, and self-assured.

BETTER RETENTION

Studies show eye contact during virtual presentations leads to a 23% improvement in recall of presented information.

MORE TRUST

According to research, eye contact in video chats facilitates trust at levels similar to face-to-face interactions.

I have been using the iContact Webcam Pro for about a few weeks now and it has replaced my Logitech C930e webcam. I find the picture quality to be better with the iContact and the low light image quality is definitely better. Overall the performance of the camera is excellent. I thought I would find the swing down camera arm distracting, but it is very unobtrusive to the point that I tend to leave it folded down even when not in use. I don’t see going back to the Logitech camera as the iContact works great and the early feedback from coaching clients is very positive. I have had several clients say, something looks different in the new year. I congratulate them for noticing and that opens a conversation about the importance of making better eye contact and the role that non-verbal communication plays both in person and on video.

If you are interested in learning more or purchasing an iContact webcamera please click the link.