We have all shook someone’s hand before, many times in fact. Naturally, this means we have experienced the good first impressions along with the bad. Handshakes are such a part of our culture that we often don’t stop to think about how we are proceeding. However, first impressions are valuable and we all could benefit from putting a bit more thought into our handshake technique and form. Here are a few tips I have learned, sometimes the hard way, when it comes to the custom of handshaking.
The first mistake that some people make is not even going for the handshake at all, but this is a necessary step when first meeting someone, and may come off as rude if you don’t offer. I don’t care if you are introduced to someone at an office meeting or at a party- shake their hand! That being said, there are a few things you should consider during this encounter.
- Look the person in the eye. Nothing is weirder than shaking someone’s hand while they stare off into the distance absentmindedly.
- Go in for the standard version of the handshake. A friend once recounted for me a time when she was not expecting a handshake when the other person was, and grabbed her hand in a similar way to how you would help someone down steps on a train, with her fingers enclosed in his fist and palm resting near the top of his hand.
- A tip I always have to remind myself of is to be aware of the jewelry on your hands. If you are wearing a ring that could potentially scratch or injure someone, use your other hand or remove your ring prior to the interaction.
- If you have a noticeable cut or band aid on your dominant hand, offer your opposite hand. There is just an ‘ick factor’ to shaking hands with someone with an obvious cut or open sore.
- If your hands are sweaty, wipe them on your pants first. You can easily do this discretely but even if someone notices, shaking a wiped off hand is still MUCH better than a sweaty one.
- I once had a guy shake my hand then apologize immediately after because he had just applied hand lotion. Please do not do this. Feeling someone’s secondhand lotion transfer to your hand is one of the grossest feelings ever.
- If you are afraid of germs and really do not want to shake someone’s hand, excuse yourself from doing so. However, don’t tell them that is the reason why or blame them in any way. Instead, excuse yourself by explaining that you aren’t feeling well and you don’t want to pass on any of your germs.
- I’m sure you have been told before to avoid the limp, dead fish handshake. Shaking someone’s lifeless hand is not fun or professional for either party.
- On the other hand, don’t crush someone’s hand. Apply the same amount of pressure you would to picking up a Timmie’s cup of coffee — enough of a grasp that you don’t drop it but not enough pressure that you would crush the container.
- It’s impossible to allot a specific time amount to a handshake, but I’d say a good estimate is anywhere from 2-5 seconds: long enough that you get a few pumps up and down but not so long that it feels like you’re preteens holding hands.
- Be within appropriate hand shake distance when you initiate the greeting. Reaching too far to shake someone’s hand is awkward and throws you off balance.
Feel free to add any more ideas that you think of. Most importantly, just relax. If you mess up a handshake don’t worry, there’s a million more waiting in your future.