subject: Make The Right Impression With Your Handshake [print this page] Handshakes are gestures of acknowledgement and greeting that offer interesting clues about the other person. They are used on a daily basis so it is beneficial to spend time learning how to properly perform them.
When you shake hands with someone, take hold of the other person's hand firmly. The power of your grip will express how confident you are. Maintain a distance of an arm's length but establish eye contact. After a couple of shakes of their hand, pause briefly, then drop the hand. Use your eyes, tone of voice and smile to express a positive message.
However, there are some common variations on this example of an ideal handshake that others use...
- The I'll Take The Lead Shake. The person who initiates this is trying to express that they are in control. They will take hold of your right hand using their right hand and will then place their left hand over the shake forming a kind of glove on your hand. They are seeking to show that they can be trusted, yet instead it results in a feeling of being uncomfortable.
- The Bone-Crushing Shake. You will feel both a squeeze of your fingers plus an exaggerated up and down movement whilst you are shaking hands. They are sending you a message that they believe or know that they are stronger than you and that they are going to control your meeting. Those that shake like this desire to be seen as confident, but they merely give the impression of being aggressive.
- The Oil Shake. These people dislike shaking hands and want to get it over with promptly. You will find your hand is left hanging in mid air after they lightly grip it before letting go a second later. They want to keep you at a distance and probably favor to avoid even minimal intimacy with others.
- The Limp Shake. This handshake feels as though the other person has no feeling in their hand. Those doing this create a weak impression of themselves. It conveys that they are not a threat, but also that they can not be counted on.
- The Body-Basher Shake. The person you are greeting will seize your hand in a dominant squeeze and pull you towards them. Their free hand will then likely be slapped over your elbow or shoulder. Unless you are already genuinely friendly with them be wary, as they are trying overly hard to be friendly with you and are probably aiming to abuse your trust.
