Direct eye contact is powerful. It can be listening intently, it can be a threat, it can be deep kindness, or it can be dominant behaviour. Whichever way, it is seeking a strong connection with another human being.

You can use eye contact to make your point, and you can also refuse eye contact to passively disagree with someone.

Eye contact from a recipient is an indication of co-operation. If you don’t get eye contact from a staff member it can be a sign of disengagement and even rebellion.

Eye contact aids communication because our eyes express more of our soul than any other part of our body. And people instinctively give more eye contact to those they like and less to those they don’t like.

Next time you have a message to get across at work, use your eyes to give it force and energy.

And remember, eye contact is not possible by phone, text, or email.