03/ 28/ 2002
Some of the little things mean the most in business relationships. Shaking hands, for instance, is one of the most frequently performed business activities -- but it's not taught in business schools, and most people hardly even think about whether they can improve their technique and the impression they make. In today's Workshop, Jeffrey Moses offers a few tips.
In the United States, it's universally accepted that you shake hands whenever meeting a new business contact or upon greeting a colleague, associate or customer. Extend your right hand, with fingers outstretched and thumb raised. Grip the other person's palm, and apply appropriately firm pressure. Shake your hand up and down several times from the elbow, not the shoulder. Then release and put your hand back to your side.
Handshakes can be either too firm or too light in their pressure. Applying too much pressure can cause pain and potentially even injure a person. Applying too little pressure can make you seem insincere or fragile. To learn how to shake hands properly, you may want to practice with an associate, friend or family member.
The technique is different when a man reaches for a woman's hand. In today's business world, it's not necessary to wait for the woman to extend her hand. The man should reach out, but should apply less pressure than when shaking hands with another man. Nonetheless, enough pressure should be applied to give an impression of sincerity and attentiveness. When women shake a man's hand, they should avoid applying too much pressure, as this may seem overly aggressive. When women shake hands, the pressure applied should be firm enough to show interest.
If you're shaking a lot of hands and are concerned about receiving crushing pressure from an unknown person, do as the politicians do when campaigning and shaking thousands of hands a day: always reach for a person's fingers, not palm. That way, you can control the amount of pressure of the handshake, and the individual won't be able to apply a painful vise on your hand.
Some tips for handshaking at parties and meetings:
- Carry your briefcase, purse or other supplies in your left hand so your right hand will be free to shake hands.
- At a cocktail party, always hold your drink in your left hand so your right hand won't feel cold and clammy.
- When visiting the restroom, make sure that your hands are completely dry after washing.
- Don't reach out to shake when the other person's hands are completely filled and he or she would have to go to a great deal of trouble to free them.
