to not be able to look at my audience when I speak

[Viictoriia]

At work I often have to give short presentations to an audience of about 20. I always believed i was good at this -spoke clearly; got my point across etc but recently feedback forms have commented that I dont make much eye contact. Its true but I don't know how to.

Try and remember that the audience aren't there to hear 'you', but to take in the information you're presenting.

If you struggle with eye contact try aiming for just above the eyebrows. If you don't linger too long it looks a bit like eye contact.

Genuine eye contact does make for a better experience though. You may well find it more fulfilling yourself as people will nod, smile and engage with you

A (maybe?) useful tip ... try to look at a point just a few inches above your audience's eyes. If you're far enough back from them, this will appear to be "eye contact" without the possible awkwardness

Sorry, Passmethecrisps ... cross posted with you

Great minds think alike!!

How many feedback forms?

I just don't like the idea of you getting a confidence knock from two forms out of 100.

I tend to look just above the head (ponytail level) of a few people and give a sort-of 'recognition' smile, as if you've just noticed someone you recognise and are glad they turned up, it's a twist on the old politician trick of pointing vaguely into the audience and waving.

Failing that, paint eyeballs on your bumcheecks, moon the audience and finish with "HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW EH?".

I am jam-packed with good advice today...

Think about where you are looking instead. There's someone who I work with who looks at the ceiling throughout when delivering a presentation and it's actually very distracting. Equally people who don't look up from their notes.

Tips about looking at foreheads are good.

I was just about to say be careful of where you are actually looking as that can be worse than no eye contact. I was at a talk recently where the speaker delivered sort of vaguely to the walls. I am a forgiving audience member but it is hard to stay focussed when you have no interaction. I feel it even affects your tone of voice if you are actually looking at a willing recipient. Not sure how but you sound more engaged

Just look up from your notes, you don't actually have to make eye contact. Looking at different points at the back of the room will do just as well.