Boss Eye

[Scanning]

Would like to know if anyone has experienced this before: I work in a large area of people in an open plan office. I have a member of staff who I'm very perturbed by due to his lack of eye co-ordination. When I speak to him I'm really not sure if he is looking at me directly or over my shoulder. I understand we are all born different and no one's perfect. This person was unfortunately born with abnormal eye co-ordination, commonly known as "boss eyed". No one has ever really mentioned it to him and I certainly don't feel comfortable asking him either. Trouble is I have had a few disagreements with him because he thinks im blanking him, when in fact i've just thought he was speaking to my collegue next to me (due to the eyes). What should I do, i really am worried he thinks I'm being obnoxious, when actually it's him that can't look at me properly

[Octavius]

I would have a quiet word with this person away from the group and explain that you cannot read his eye signals all the time. I am sure he will be aware of why. Then apologise if you have offended him and agree that you both put it behind you and then laugh about it.

[Lou1968]

I would suggest a less honest way to deal with this. Initiate a conversation with him and make a note of which eye is looking at you. Then, when he initiates a conversation you can check the same eye to see if its looking at you. I've worked with a couple of people with this and you really do get used to it in time and most of them favour one eye.

[WoWo]

I had the same trouble in a previous job. I did as Lou1968 suggested and worked out which we the "good".

There was also some women on the train the other day I couldn't work if she was looking at me the whole journey.