It is part of the Sunnah to turn one’s face towards the khateeb and look at him

During the Friday khutbah, some of the worshippers look at the
khateeb; some look straight ahead; some look at the ground; and some
close their eyes. Is there a specific Sunnah regarding this matter?
Praise be to Allaah.
It was narrated in a saheeh hadeeth that oneof the companions of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: when the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) mounted the
minbar, we would turn our faces towards him.
(al-Silsilat al_Saheehah by al-Albaani, no. 2080)
It was narrated that Abaan ibn 'Abd-Allaah al-Bajili said: I saw
'Udayy ibn Thaabit turning to face the imaam when he stood todeliver
the khutbah. I said to him, I saw you turn your face towards the
imaam. He said, I saw the Companions of the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) doing that.
It was narrated that 'Abd-Allaah ibn Mas'ood said: when the Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) mounted the
minbar, wewould turn our faces towards him him. This was narrated by
al-Tirmidhi, who said, in the same chapter there are reports narrated
from Ibn 'Umar and Muhammad ibn al-Fadl. According to the
scholarsamong the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) and others, this is to be followed. They regard it
as mustahabb to turn to face the imaam when hedelivers the khutbah.
This is the view of Sufyaan al-Thawri, al-Shaafa'i, Ahmad and Ishaaq.
It was narrated that Yahyaa ibn Sa'eed al-Ansaari said: "The Sunnah
when the imaamsits on the minbar on Friday is for all the people to
turn their faces towards him."
It was narrated from Naafi' that Ibn 'Umar used to finish his tasbeeh
before the imaam came out; when he came out, he would turn to face him
before the imaam even sat down.
Al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) compiled these ahaadeeth in
al-Silsilat al-Saheehah, no. 2080, and commented on them.
It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said: "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) sat on the minbar and we sat around him." (Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 921)
Al-Bukhaari narrated thehadeeth in "Chapter: Theimaam facing the
people, and the people turning their faces towards the imaam when he
delivers the khutbah, and Ibn 'Umar and Anas (may Allaah be pleased
with them) turning their faces towards the imaam."
The point of the hadeethis that the fact that they sat around him to
listen to his words implies thatthey were looking at him in most
cases. This isnot affected by what was said earlier about the khateeb
standing during the khutbah, because this implies thathe used to speak
whilst he was sitting in a high place and they were sitting at a lower
point. If that was the case at times other than the khutbah, then it
is more appropriate to do that atthe time of the khutbah because there
is the command to listen to it attentively.
He said:
"One of the reasons for their turning their faces towards the imaam is
to facilitate their listening to his words, and to observe good
manners when listening to him. If a person turn his face towards him
with the proper physical posture and a focused mind, thatwill better
enable them to understand his preaching and is in accordance with the
reason why the khateeb is commanded to stand."
And Allaah knows best.