My high school coach was an interesting character. She was very intense and expected a 110% effort from us every time we were on the court. She enjoyed yelling, high heals, and definitely had a flare for the dramatics. One of the greatest lessons that she taught me was to look people in the eye. When she was speaking we always had to look her in the eye, or run. Since running to me is the equivalent of stepping on hot coals, I choose the first option. As a shy kid this was not something that I was entirely comfortable with. But as time went on I improved at this skill and found my confidence growing in other facets of life. Today it is one of the many non-verbals that I use in business meetings, trainings, speaking with superiors and also when speaking to my staff.
It may seem like a simple skill, but looking people in the eye is important for many reasons. When you engage someone you are telling them that you are interested, that they matter and that you actually care about what they are saying. Sideways glances, and looking down doesn’t cut it in the real world and you may be seen as a person that lacks confidence or simply doesn’t care. Non verbals can make or break you in the professional world so what better place to start learning these skills then on the playing field. Start working with your kids today on looking their Coaches in the eye and it will grow into a skill that they can utilize the rest of their lives.
For more on Non Verbal communication check out the book Body Talk.