Looks like you have had your fair share of not so nice handshakes, Kristen. 🙂 The sad part is that more often than not, the other person may not be aware of the handshake etiquette and ends up making a faux pas that conveys the wrong message. Quite often, at a networking event, if I have just had an hor d’oevre , I discreetly wipe my hand on the napkin just to make sure that it is not greasy. One can never be cautious enough when it comes to making the right first impression. Thanks for visiting my blog, hope to see you here again soon!

Thanks for sharing your experience about adjusting to different cultural norms, Delia. As the world becomes a close knit global village, we often need to adjust our etiquette to ensure that we convey the right message with sincerity and authenticiy.

Thanks for the great article, Vatsala!

A handshake must be firm, quick but not too quick, a full hand, with the right hand and along with eye contact – all like you said… soooooo true!

Oh, yea, and nothing like sweaty palms.. I get some people can’t help it… but knowing you will be shaking someone’s hand, discreetly wipe it? Right? Thanks so much, girl I am so with you!

Hi Roslyn. Thank you for sharing your experience as a career counselor and validating the confident handshake. As a careerist, I often felt the same way when it came to interviews and client meetings. A good handshake both before and after the meeting helps to lay firm foundations for future interactions.

Thank you Beverley. Being sensitive and intuitive I do focus on the eyes and smile while handshaking to determine the sincerity of the handshake. When the smile is accompanied with smiling eyes and a good handshake, I know that the other person is sincere and an effective communicator. There is so much to be learned about body language and etiquette!

Thank you Lisa and a warm welcome to The Karmic Ally Coaching Experience Blog! We learn as we go along. Another tip that I learned from my parents was that the lady offers her hand for the handshake first. Enjoy your day at the festival and wow those cowboys with your awesome handshake!