KINESICS - Eye contacts including gazing, glancing and eye blocking
(i) Reading eyes
Eyes form the focal point of the face and body movements. Proper reading of the eyes can reveal the following states of mind:
(a) Positive feedback
If the eye contact gives a positive feedback to the speaker, it boosts his confidence and imparts a new zeal to the presentation.
(b) Negative feedback
If the feedback through the eye contacts is negative, it leads to demoralizing of the speaker, resulting in his faltering and fumbling.
(c)Positive eye contact
A positive eye contact especially during gatherings like seminars, meetings etc, makes them interesting and lively.
(d) Blank looks
A person with a blank look, when eyes do not blink, appears to be bored. It means he is not listening.
(e) Avoiding glances
Generally people do not exchange glances with the strangers to avoid opening of any conversation or contact with them.
(f) Avoiding eye contact
A person avoiding eye contact may not be feeling comfortable or he may be attempting to deceive or hide something. He may have guilty conscience.
(g) Indifference
Eyes can easily give the idea whether the person is showing indifference to the topic being discussed or happenings in the vicinity.
(h) Index of state of mind
Eyes can effectively reveal anger, authority, fear, disgust, timidity, confidence, love, intimacy etc
(i) Index of emotional state
Eyes can also convey the emotional states of happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, disgust or pain.
(j) Staring eyes
Although people do not like staring, a person in love stares often.
(k) Sidelong glances
A person engaged in sidelong glances may be suspicious, doubtful or distrusting of what is happening around.
(l) Concentrated eyes
A person with concentrated eyes, accompanied by lowering of eyelids, is not concealing the eyes; instead, he is focusing on some interesting object as is often used by artists and lovers.
(m) Wearing glasses on eyes
It does not come in the way of reading the eyes. On the contrary, it may yield additional information to the watcher. A person removing glasses and then wearing it again quickly wants quick decisions.
(n) Eyes lighting up
Eyes light up when one is happy or excited about something or when he wants to share someone‟s happiness.
(o) Eyes welling up
When a person empathizes with another individual, eyes well up.
(p) Dilation and contraction of pupils of the eyes
If a person is very excited, the pupil can dilate up to four times its normal size. Contracted eyes make them look beady or like snake eyes that shows anger. Babies and small children use dilation of pupils to gain attention. Dilation of pupil by kids makes them appear more desirable.
(q) Expression of anger and hostility through eyes
The expression of anger and hostility through other parts of the body is largely controllable but it is very difficult to control the anger and hostility through the eyes. It invariably leads to serious conflicts.
Almost every adult must have experienced:
„A look that would kill‟
„A come-hither look‟
„I am available look‟
„A fist eye‟
As a rule, successful managers develop a good understanding with their subordinates through eye contact. It leads to better rapport between the manager and his subordinates. This kind of relationship with subordinates enhances human potential, their output and productivity.
Eye movements form the lifeblood of Indian classical dances – they use a permutation and combination of eyebrows, eyelids, eyelashes and pupil and make eyes the potent instrument for suggestions and other emotional feelings.
In most situations of business interest, managers should look in to the eyes when they are talking to someone. It is interesting to note that the late A Onassis, a Greek shipping magnate who often emerged as a successful negotiator of deals, wore dark glasses while negotiating!
