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How effective is your handshake?

For my birthday, we went to a favorite restaurant for lunch. The Manager, who knows me from his waiter days, extended his hand to offer a congratulatory handshake.

I accepted although afterwards I had to make a discreet visit to the Ladies WC to wash my hands. His had been clammy and sticky and a hand sanitizer or napkin would not suffice.

That got me thinking more about handshakes. I remember as a Fifth Grader, I won a book based on a BBC program titled I Want to Know, which contained answers to questions that children ask.

One of the questions related to handshakes. The answer was that in olden days, since everyone carried swords, by extending the hand to shake that of the other person; you were offering a gesture of peace.

Not much has changed since then. Handshakes communicate powerful non-verbal greetings when introduced or saying goodbye, for concluding business meetings or offering congratulations. Even in informal settings handshakes are a gesture of friendliness, acceptance and respect.

How effective is your handshake?

Considering that a short handshake can create a link between you and the other person allowing you to connect further, you want to make sure that your handshake etiquette is correct.

5 Ingredients of a perfect Handshake

In my view, in addition to having non-sweaty hands that can give the impression that you are uneasy or uncomfortable, there are 5 key ingredients to a perfect handshake.

First, stand up and step or lean towards the person you are greeting. Make eye contact, smile and begin with a voice greeting before extending the arm and hand for the handshake.

Second, make sure you are actually doing a handshake and NOT a finger-shake.

Finger shake

The Story of the 5-Finger Client 

This is a true story. When I was a young audit intern, the firm I was apprenticed with had an audit client who used to offer an open finger hand for a handshake.

The sight was something to be seen – our clasping and open hand with fingers sticking out.

As auditors we kept mum but we young interns and often practiced behind closed doors on how we could do a handshake with the 5-finger client.

The position of the hand should be to keep your fingers together with the thumb up and open. On making contact with the other person’s hand, you need match the web of your hand with the person being greeted.

Then, having grasped the hand firmly, give it a little squeeze, pump up and down 2-3 times and then let go. Eye contact and a smile have to be maintained throughout the duration of the handshake.

Thirdly, always use your right hand. Even at networking events, keep your glass or plate in the left hand and extend a clean right hand for the handshake.

Fourthly, make sure that the grip is firm. A limp handshake gives out the message that you are not confident or perhaps not interested in the other person or what they have to offer.

Having said that, remember that there is a difference between a firm handshake and a bone crushing vice grip.

I still remember as a 10-year-old, overhearing a conversation between my parents who were about to go to a diplomatic party. They were dreading meeting an otherwise delightful diplomat but who crushed bones in a prolonged handshake.

My Mom’s hands were delicate, and she often got bruises from the genial diplomat’s handshake greeting. I think kids are often wiser than their parents in some matters.

I pointed out that as an Indian Lady, she could demurely offer the salutation of a Namaste with folded hands and still be polite. Poor Dad, well, he had to grin and bear it and try to get his hand out quickly before it got crushed. It worked.

The handshake should be maintained for 3-4 second only. You can always assess the duration depending upon the culture of the other person but too long or too short a handshake can send out the wrong message.

Fifthly, follow the protocol of initiating the handshake. Normally, the person of higher ranking should initiate the handshake.

If you are in the same age group as the other person, taking the initiative would convey that you are friendly and confident. When it comes to gender, I was taught that the lady proffered her hand first for a handshake.

A word about culture and business nuances……..

Different cultures can result in unintended faux pas. The best advice I can give is, that when dealing with people of a different cultural background, check on their etiquette before meeting them.

Freshen up on your skills of observation to check on facial and body language for cues on whether or not to initiate the handshake.

In a business setting, avoid use only the right hand and avoid the more personal gesture of holding the other person’s hand between both your hands.

An effective handshake should convey your intention towards the other person, irrespective of gender, that you are genuinely interested in getting to know the other person.

As in ancient times, your handshake is a gesture of goodwill and respect. A good handshake can help take your conversations further and a skill that you do need to master.

How effective is your handshake? Have you ever gotten the wrong impression about another person based on the strength or non-strength of their handshake or any other break from handshake etiquette?

Did I miss out anything in my handshake etiquette suggestions? I’d love to read about it in the comments box below.

Written By: Vatsala Shukla