Today is Tuesday, so this post is on positive personal impact. Your handshake is one of the best ways to make a positive personal impact. Recently, I read an article about handshakes on www.aboutmen.com. I’ve summarized it here.
Make sure your handshake is firm and dry.
We all get nervous and nerves make out palms sweat. Here are a couple of common sense ideas for keeping you palms dry. 1) Wash your hands before going to an important meeting. Keep your palms open until the time comes to shake hands. Avoid closing your fists, because that's what generates the heat and sweat. 2. Wipe your hands before the handshake. Carry tissue to wipe your hands. Tissue will absorb excess moisture in your hands and allow you to give a dry handshake.
Make sure your handshake is firm but not too firm.
A soft handshake is often seen as a sign of weakness, lack of confidence and/or lack of interest. These signs are the opposites of confidence and strength, important attributes in respected and successful people. If you have a weak handshake, firm it up. Firm handshakes create a good impression. One way to make sure that your handshake is appropriately firm is to pay attention to how much pressure the other person applies when shaking your hand. Adjust your handshake accordingly. Give a sturdy handshake, but make sure it is comfortable for the other person. Save the testosterone for the gym; moderate your grip.
Make sure you grasp the whole hand, not just the fingers.
I am sure this happened to you before. Someone takes your four fingers, not allowing you to really lock your hand with theirs. Avoid doing this to other people. Usually, this happens by accident. If you inadvertently give someone a finger grab shake, apologize and ask the person for a second handshake. It might sound awkward, but people actually remember this and will appreciate the respect derived from a real quality handshake.
Use a classic handshake.
Sometime you might feel as if you need a manual to decode some of the weird handshakes people use. Kids twiddle, slap, click, and dance with their fingers, and they actually consider these handshakes. But in the career world, it’s best to act grown up. A simple, firm handshake, will do you fine every time.
A handshake is a very simple gesture, but it play a large role in determining how others perceive you, and in creating positive personal impact. The best, most common sense advice -- make sure you shake hands firmly, while looking another person straight in the eye. This will allow you to make a great first impression and a positive personal impact.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense. Check out my other blogs: www.CareerSuperStar.com for common sense advice on becoming the life and career star you are meant to be; and www.CommonSenseDay.com to learn more about Use Your Common Sense Day -- November 4, and to read stories of common sense in action.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.
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