The Lost Art of Eye Contact

Every morning 5am sharp, I head to the beach. It’s about 5.5km there and back. I walk, sometimes I jog if I’m feeling frisky. I use this time to reflect.

I do my best to say good morning, or at the very least smile, to anyone who walks past me. What I’ve noticed is the vast majority of people have their heads down, either on their devices or just uncomfortable with eye contact.

The older generation seem to get it. Eyes up, big smile, like they’re open to a conversation. The younger generations… well, they’ve got a bit of work to do. Most are more comfortable with their eyes down on their devices than holding an eyeball.

This is what it is, yes, but if you’re in sales or a trust-building role, connection is the fastest way to trust. If you’re only switching it on because there’s money involved, or because you feel you have to, you’ll come across as inauthentic.

👉 My advice: practice every day. It’ll help you feel more confident... and it’s good for the soul.

If I had to choose between living in a world where people walk around like distracted zombies with their heads down, or a world where people walk around smiling and engaging, even with strangers, I know which world I’d choose.

What about you?