1.

Begin With an Oral Introduction of Yourself

Before extending your hand, introduce yourself. Extending your hand should be part of an
introduction, not a replacement for using your voice. Extending your hand without a voice
greeting may make you appear nervous or overly aggressive.

2. Pump Your Hand Only 2-3 Times

A business handshake should be brief and to the point. Consider a handshake a short “sound
bite” greeting, not a lengthy engagement. Holding on for more than three or four seconds can
make other people feel uncomfortable.

3. Shake From Your Elbow

If you shake from the shoulder, using your upper arm instead of just your forearm, you risk
jolting your handshake partner. The idea is to connect, not be overbearing.

4. Do Not Use a Forceful Grip

A handshake should be a friendly or respectful gesture, not a show of physical strength. An
uncomfortable handshake is never a pleasant experience for anyone. Imagine you are opening
a door handle and use about the same level of grip in your handshake.

5. Avoid Offering a “Fish Hand”

A limp hand is never a good idea when it comes to a business handshake. Do return the grip,
but do not get into a power struggle, even if the other person squeezes too hard.

6. Forget “Lady Fingers”

This is not a Southern Cotillion, this is business. Offering only your fingers to shake may be
appropriate in some social settings, but in business settings you are an equal, not a “lady.”
Extend your entire hand, and be sure to grasp using your entire hand as well.

7. One Hand is Better than Two

Avoid the urge to handshake with two hands. It is always better in business introductions to
use only one hand – your right hand – for the shake. The use of two hands with strangers is
seen as intrusive, and too personal. In fact, a two-handed shake is called the “politician’s
shake,” because it appears artificially friendly when used on people you barely know.

8. Shaking a Sweaty Hand

If you shake hands with someone who has sweaty palms, do not immediately wipe your hands
on your clothing, handkerchief, or tissue. This will further embarrass the other person, who is
probably already aware they have sweaty hands. You can discretely wipe them on something
after you are out of site, and wash them later.

9. Ending a Handshake
End the handshake after 3-4 seconds, or 2-3 pumps. In order to avoid creating an awkward
moment, your shake should end before the oral introduction exchange does. Without
conversation taking place during the entire handshake, it becomes too intimate, and can feel
more like hand holding.

10. Covering Your Mistakes

Even if you make a mistake, do not panic. There are many ways to save the moment. If you
are worried that your handshake did not convey the right message about yourself, simply
change the focus of the moment by offering a quick compliment or asking the other person a
question.

YOUR HANDSHAKE MAY PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION TO OTHERS

THAN YOU THINK

Study Shows How A Firm Handshake Affects First Impressions; May Provide An
Effective Initial Form of Self-Promotion for Women

Washington - A new study backs up what the etiquette books have been saying all along,
that a firm handshake helps makes a good first impression for both males and females.
The study, reported in this month's issue of the Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology, a journal published by the American Psychological Association (APA), finds
that consistent with the etiquette and business literature, there is a substantial relation
between the features that characterize a firm handshake (strength, vigor, duration, eye
contact and completeness of grip) and a favorable first impression.

The University of Alabama study involved 112 male and female college students whose
handshakes were evaluated by four handshake coders who received one month of training
and practice in shaking hands and evaluating handshakes before the study began. The
students, who didn't know their handshakes were being evaluated, had their hands shaken
eight times (twice with all four experimenters) and they also completed four personality
questionnaires.

Results of the study, according to lead author William F. Chaplin, Ph.D., show that a
person's handshake is consistent over time and is related to some aspects of his or her
personality. Those with a firm handshake were more extraverted and open to experience
and less neurotic and shy than those with a less firm or limp handshake. The researchers
say these results demonstrate that personality traits, assessed through the self-report, can
predict specific behaviors assessed by trained observers.

The study did identify some sex differences. Males were generally found to have firmer
handshakes than women. Also, women who are more liberal, intellectual and open to new
experiences were found to have a firmer handshake and made a more favorable
impression than women who were less open and had a less firm handshake. For men, the
opposite was found; more open men had a slightly less firm handshake and made a
somewhat poorer impression than less open men.

Dr. Chaplin says the implications of the study may be important for self-promotion
strategies used by women. "The result of this study differs from the typical finding that
women who exhibit confident behavior that is similar to the behavior of men often make
a more negative impression than the men," said Dr. Chaplin. He says the current study
was similar to real-world situations of business contacts and employment interviews
where "giving a firm handshake may provide an effective initial form of self-promotion
for women that does not have the costs associated with other less subtle forms of
assertive self-promotion."
When to Shake Hands in Business

In the United States, the handshake is an accepted greeting in most social and business
circumstances. When in doubt, do offer your hand, unless doing so would cause someone else
to be embarrassed or inconvenienced.

It is considered appropriate and acceptable to offer a handshake when greeting:

 New business contacts, staff, coworkers, or others you are meeting for the first time;
 A former business or casual acquaintance, especially if it has been a while since you

last saw them;

 concluding a business transaction or meeting;

 Congratulating someone else for an award, event, or accomplishment; and
 When leaving a business event, including social settings where business contacts or
acquaintances are involved.

When Not to Shake Hands

The first rule of thumb in handshaking is simple: Never offer your hand first, at any time, or in
such a way, that makes the other person feel inconvenienced or uncomfortable.

With this rule in mind, it is not a good idea to be the one to initiate a handshake:

 With someone of higher status (let them approach you or make the first gesture);
 To break an awkward moment of silence when being introduced to someone new (a
proper handshake should also involve conversation);
 If you have nothing to say to the person (a handshake is an invitation for conversation
or desire for social interaction);
 Someone whose right hand, arm, or shoulder, is clearly injured, or they need their
hand to support their weight with a cane or crutches; or
 If the other person’s hands are full and a handshake would require them to shift items
from one hand to another, or to have to put things down