Key takeaways
- Hold each gaze for one full sentence — about four seconds — then move.
- Scan the room in a triangle, not a sweep, so coverage feels intentional.
- Use the back wall, not the floor, when you need to think mid-sentence.
Where you look while speaking is the single biggest signal of confidence — bigger than your voice, bigger than your posture. And the rule is almost the opposite of what most coaches tell you.
The triangle method
Pick three points: front-left, front-right, back-centre. Move between them in roughly that order, holding each for the length of one sentence. The room reads as held; no individual feels stared at.
Hear it yourself
Dr. Maya Ellis
Speech coach · TEDx mentor
Maya has coached over 4,000 speakers — from terrified students to Fortune 500 execs — and holds a PhD in communication science. She writes the research-backed half of this site and reviews every guide for accuracy.