Eye Contact in Speeches

'Some people have trouble looking at people in the eyes and for an excellent speech, you must do this. But I have a cheat way of doing it! People think you are looking at them but they are wrong.

Image credit

My Tip:
First, you must know your speech. This is vital so you can pretend to be looking at the people listening to you rather than at your notes.

Image credit
Because starting your speech is the hardest part scan your eyes across the back of the room until your familiar with your audience. This gives the impression you are giving eye contact without actually looking at anyone directly.'
But let's take 'eye contact' a step or two further and look at what can happen if we can get over the nervous jitters and the need to pretend.

Image credit

For real communication, there needs to be a two-way exchange between the giver, the speaker, and the receiver, the audience.
To do that well, you do as Alexia says, need eye contact and to know your speech. Reading your notes, or looking at your powerpoint presentation preclude that.
Once you know your material you're free to talk to your audience directly - to meet their eyes.

Image credit

way to approach that is to think of them as a friend. Bunch all those people into one and consider them as someone who already knows you, as someone with whom you already have a good rapport and who wants to know to hear what you have to say. If you were talking with this person you'd be making eye contact regularly.
Now holding that idea of the audience as one, deliver your first thought to someone in the second row, the next to someone in the middle, the following to a person at the side of the room and so on throughout the room and the duration of your speech.

https://www.write-out-loud.com/eye-contact-in-public-speaking.html

Audience Contact

There should be a close rapport between speaker and audience.

Eye Contact This is essential and needs to be directed throughout the audience.
It is not a quick glance, but a meaningful meeting with various listeners at various times.
Body Language Your body should be 'in tune' with the message you are delivering.
Avoid any distracting movements or mannerisms.
Gestures If a point needs to be stressed, then an uncontrived (natural) gesture could be effective.
This gesture should never be repeated or overdone.

Key/Cue Cards

Image credit

Remember, it is public speaking and nor 'public reading'.

• Once you have written your speech, reduce it to keywords on cue cards, then destroy the original draft. This will encourage you to speak, rather than read.
• Your cue cards should be numbered to avoid confusion.
• When referring to cue cards, ensure that they are held at a comfortable level - not too high and not too low.
• Referral to notes should be a natural gesture without obstruction to the flow of the speech.
• Remember, when you look down at your notes, your voice goes down.

If you are not note-bound, you are able to express yourself more freely.

When you have discovered that you have the ability to speak and not to read a speech, you will be ready to make use of summarised notes e.g. a Mindmap, reduced to one card and used only as a reminder or for guidance.

Image credit

Source: EBH Joubert. Public Speaking

https://www.asme.org/career-education/articles/public-speaking/public-speaking-know-your-audience
https://www.write-out-loud.com/eye-contact-in-public-speaking.html

please follow me @frieda