The Lost Art of the Handshake (And a few other things you never really think about that are vital to your success)
Jan 9th, 2009 by admin
Many years ago, I had the pleasure of having coffee with the CEO of a major janitorial products distribution company. It was a wonderful meeting that led to something very unusual – a lesson on how to properly shake hands. Having been around for awhile and obviously highly successful, the chipper CEO explained that a handshake can say it all – whether you’re confident, uneasy, business-oriented and so on. He said that my handshake was…well..soft. Now being heavy into bodybuilding and fitness at the time, I was not impressed. But I listened… He explained that when he initially shook my hand it was like shaking the hand of a thousand others – that it lacked confidence and oomph. Oomph? He instructed me to grasp firmly, always look the ‘shakee’ in the eye and shake up and down vigorously. As the ‘shakor’ I had a responsibility to make the first impression a good one. Since that moment on, I have never looked back. I can shake with the best of them! Several studies have since confirmed the CEO’s suggestions. One study conducted by the University of Alabama and printed in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (published by the American Psychological Association) suggests not being afraid of offering a strong, assertive handshake. For me, it really has done a world of good. I’ve had people comment “Great handshake” or “Wow! Firm handshake, I like that.” They remember me and they know I mean business. This is as important for women as it is for men – if not more so. Shake it like you mean it!
Here are the few other things you never really think about that are vital to your success:
Body language: Like a handshake, your body language says a lot about you. You don’t have to be a runway model or UFC fighter to walk tall and command respect. But don’t overdo it, as over-correcting can actually work against you. Being too aware can leave you looking rigid and robotic. Just stand straight (no shoulders hunched forward), look up and ahead and think confident, positive thoughts.
Eye contact: When you’re speaking with someone, it is vital to make good eye contact. Not only does this say to the other person “Hey I’m listening and very interested in what you have to say,” it also signals that you are ready to take on whatever task is thrown your way. Eye contact is a confidence booster!
Keep ‘head’ motion to a minimum: Believe it or not, moving your head around too much while speaking with a group or team of people can signal that you are needy and seeking approval. To exhibit power and confidence, keep your head motion in check.
Charisma: Don’t have any. Borrow some. Buy some. Just get some.
Really informative….
Thnx for sharing…