The Rotterdam Zoo now distribute special eyeglasses for visitors to the gorilla area. This way, it doesn't look like you are threatening the gorillas by making eye contacts.

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There is a reason why public speaking is a common fear. Having many eyes on you incites fear and activates your lizard brain, taking over any rational thought.

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In an over simplified definition, our brain is split into two types. One is old and primitive called the lizard brain which controls basic functions like breathing, fight or flight response, and the reward center. The other is the more evolutionarily recent part of our brain that facilitates reasoning and judgement. If these two brains were to have conflicting decisions, the lizard brain always win, as survival is the utmost priority. Just as how you cannot reason while drowning, you cannot deliver a good presentation while experiencing stage fright.

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The lizard brain seeks comfort and stays out of trouble. Just as the gorillas in the Rotterdam Zoo were stressed from making eye-contact with visitors, having eyes on us incites fear within our lizard brain. In a tribe, a wrong move in the spotlight puts you in a vulnerable position to criticisms and social rejection, which is directly related to their survival. With this, our lizard brain avoids these situations at all costs.

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In the workplace, I believe this translates to having a trusting team, where everyone can feel secure enough to share differing opinions and still feel a sense of belonging.