Technique of the week · Mastering delivery
Eye Contact & Space
One person, one thought
Talk to faces, not to the room — and move only when the idea moves.
The idea
Scanning the room makes you look nervous. Instead, deliver one complete thought to one person, then move to the next. Use the stage the same way: stand still to make a point, and move only on transitions, so your body punctuates the structure.
How to do it
- Deliver each full sentence to a single person before moving your eyes.
- Assign a place on the floor to each part of your talk.
- Plant your feet for every key line.
In the session
The drill
One sentence, one person: speakers must finish each sentence looking at a different, named person in the room.
This week
Your homework
In your next conversation, notice where you look when you're thinking. Bring it back to the face.
When you give feedback, ask
Did you feel spoken to? Did their movement help or distract?
Source: Delivery (actio): gesture and stance, Quintilian XI.3.