Staring Too Intensely Maintaining eye contact is essential, but staring can feel aggressive or make others uncomfortable. Fix: Use the 70-30 rule—look into the person’s eyes 70% of the time and break away briefly to appear natural.
Avoiding Eye Contact Entirely Avoiding eye contact might signal nervousness, dishonesty, or lack of interest. Fix: Gradually practice looking into someone’s eyes during conversations to build confidence and convey attentiveness.
Focusing on Only One Eye Fixating on one eye might feel unnatural to the other person and create awkwardness. Fix: Shift your gaze between both eyes or focus on the bridge of the nose for a balanced and natural effect.
Blinking Too Much or Too Little Excessive blinking shows nervousness, while too little blinking can appear robotic. Fix: Aim for natural blinking patterns by staying relaxed and aware of your body language.
Not Matching the Conversation Tone Holding intense eye contact during casual conversations or breaking it too often during serious talks can feel mismatched. Fix: Adjust your eye contact to the context—be warm and soft for light chats and steady for important discussions.
Forgetting to Smile While Maintaining Eye Contact Eye contact without a smile can come across as cold or intimidating. Fix: Pair your gaze with a natural, friendly smile to appear approachable and genuine.