The Art of Handshake

Handshake is a century old social custom seen in almost every parts of the world. It is a common practice in all formal social occasions and also in business. It reveals a lot of information though this takes a very small tenure of touch. That is the power of touch.

As per simian psychology, sticking out of the hand is a gesture of accepted vulnerability. It bears the message of submission, ending conflict and creating bondage.

Most of us believe that we do handshake properly. But it has some norms and grammar. Few customs of handshake are given below:

1. Who shakes hands in business? The answer is simply everyone. This is a social custom.
2. Who will extend the hand first? It is always the host irrespective of his superiority.
3. How to create a seamless shaking choreography? Extend your hand from a distance of about six feet. This is called an intentional gesture and makes the other person that a hand is approaching.
4. Keep your hand free. Transferring the pen or the cell phone at last moment do not give a good look it expresses that you were not expecting the guest or the visitor.
5. What to say during handshake? Tell name and introduce yourself during shaking hands. Maintain eye contact with a smile.
6. The location of hands. Keep the hands below waist level during shaking hand.
7. Keep your hand dry and cool. If you suffer from excessive sweating, keep your hands dry.
8. Do not wipe your hands before handshake, it looks very abnormal.
9. Again do not wipe out hands just after the handshake. It is a signal of repulsion.
10. Ensure that both the palms are touching each others. Because that will bear your power of touch.
11. Shake vertically or up and down for three times. This is widely practiced.
12. Avoid crunching.
13. Grabbing the one hand in two of your own is known as hand sandwich. This is the sign of ultra friendly relation. But sometimes the victim feels trapped. This style should be spontaneous.
14. Any added touch, patting or prolonged shaking transfers the signals of closeness, enmity, status etc.
15.  While shaking hand and adding an arm pat below the elbow depicts extra pleasure for meeting the other person. Patting above elbow level creeps into the power pat remit, giving a friendly gesture to register control.

Handshake norms and ethics deliver first impression and first impression builds the cornerstone of subsequent image and relation.

Reference:

James, Judi. (2009). The Body Language Rules. Illinois. Sourcebooks Inc.