Could Cultural Differences Explain Limited Eye Contact at Work?
Asked by
MellowCedar47
I recently started a new job where most of the IT infrastructure and security team members are from India. They're knowledgeable, friendly, and great to work with, but I've noticed that they usually make only brief eye contact with me during presentations, technical discussions, and one-on-one conversations. A colleague who started at the same time and is also Indian seems to receive more direct eye contact. I'm the only white person on the team and was hired into a senior role. Could this be a cultural or workplace-hierarchy difference, or might I be doing something that makes people uncomfortable?
Answers
A lot of technical people, regardless of background, aren’t comfortable with prolonged eye contact. Some people look away while thinking or listening and still follow the conversation closely. If their work and communication are otherwise good, this probably isn’t something to worry about.
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Try not to reduce the explanation to nationality alone. People differ because of personality, upbringing, neurodiversity, comfort level, and workplace hierarchy. If everyone is participating, responding, and doing good work, limited eye contact is probably just a preference rather than a problem.
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It could be related to culture, seniority, or simply individual communication styles. In some settings, extended eye contact with someone more senior can feel overly familiar or even disrespectful. Your colleague may also be at a similar level to the rest of the team, which could explain the difference. I wouldn’t assume it means they dislike or distrust you.
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It’s understandable that eye contact feels important to you during a serious conversation, but expectations vary widely. Brief eye contact doesn’t necessarily mean someone is being dismissive. If you build rapport and keep the conversation relaxed, their behavior may change naturally. You could also ask a trusted colleague about local communication norms without making it sound like a criticism.
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MellowCedar47: That makes sense. I think I may be interpreting a different communication style as a lack of engagement, especially because I’m used to reading eye contact as a sign of respect.