Teachable moments #66 - Eye Contact: Confidence or Disrespect?

I used to think eye contact was simple.

If someone maintained eye contact, it meant confidence, engagement, sincerity.
If they didn’t, it felt like avoidance, shyness, or even rudeness.

But over time, I realised something. Eye contact isn’t universal.

In some cultures, holding eye contact shows confidence and respect.
In others, too much eye contact can feel intense, or even disrespectful, especially towards authority or elders.

So when someone looks away, it may not be disinterest.
It could be a form of respect, or humility. Or simply what feels appropriate in their cultural context.

The behaviour is the same. But the meaning is not.
And this is where misunderstandings might begin.
We don’t just read behaviour, we interpret it through our own lens.

Cultural intelligence helps us pause that instinct.
To ask “𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎?”
Because sometimes, understanding doesn’t come from looking harder but from seeing differently.