Handling Hard Situations

Different settings call for different tactics:

• Job interviews: hold steady contact with the questioner, briefly include other panel members, and never look down on tough questions — it reads as evasion.
• Video calls: look at the camera lens, not the screen. This creates the illusion of direct eye contact, which matters in remote work.
• Hostile audiences: stay calm and steady without staring. Breaking contact under pressure signals submission or guilt.
• Cross-cultural settings: in some cultures, sustained eye contact with authority figures is disrespectful. Research the local norms first.