Attention is bigger than eye contact
Use alternative attention signals when direct eye contact is costly or culturally mismatched.
The move: measure attention by engagement, not by one gaze rule. Eye contact can show attention, confidence, and respect in many professional settings. It can also create pressure, cultural mismatch, or cognitive load. That is why "look me in the eye" is a weak standard for trust. A stronger standard is visible engagement. The person may face the speaker, track the shared screen, write down exact phrases, summarize the point, ask a relevant question, or say, "I am looking away to think." These signals tell you whether the person is participating without requiring one facial behavior. This matters in management.…
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