Handshake Etiquette: How to Properly Shake Hands
August 11, 2010
Have you ever shaken someone’s hand and instantly felt every bone in your fingers break to pieces? Or, even worse, felt as if you were shaking the hand of a dead fish?
True: Handshakes have been around since the birth of civilization.
False: Everyone knows how to shake a hand.
Firm handshake – this means you too ladies! Obviously the goal here isn’t to break the person’s hand, but by having a firm handshake it show that you are confident, mean business, and excludes a professional demeanor and attitude. A handshake can tell a lot about a person and believe it or not there is a right and wrong way of something so simple.
When you go to shake someone’s hand, take notice where your hand is being placed. If your hand is positioned on top this means either you or the person shaking your hand thinks that you are better than them. If you are positioned on the bottom, it means you or the person feels that you are the lesser of the two. Make sure your hands are parallel; this shows that you both are equal.
Next step, allow them to grip your hand first, if someone shakes your hand softly, this means you should speak to him or her softly, if it is firm, speak to him or her with more authority.
Communication through a handshake is very powerful and it is one of the key elements in getting to know who it is you are speaking with and it is YOUR first point of identifying with
this person and making yourself known!
And one more element to your first met and greet. When introducing yourself, make sure you look at your partner directly in their eyes and have constant eye contact. Wandering eyes is a dead giveaway of lack of confidence or respect.
