Everyone knows the value of a good first impression. In mere seconds of your meeting, people attain various information regarding us. They notice our face, hair, clothing, body size, posture, demeanor and also the sound of our own voice. It’s a crucial time because there is no second possiblity to create a good first impression.
Then it happens … the handshake .
One time i took a communications class at a nearby church. The trainer had 30+ attendees fall into line single file. The instructions were to look him inside the eye and shake his hand. I had been confident I knew how you can properly shake hands.
Following your last person shook the instructor’s hand, he asked, “Tell me everything you thought about my handshake. Could it have been a great handshake or a bad handshake?” I liked his handshake. It absolutely was a firm grip like mine. His handshake confirmed if you ask me I knew how to shake hands. I said, like everyone else, “good handshake.”
He then said a thing that completely required aback.
He said the reason why everybody liked his handshake was simple. He mirrored ours. If the handshake was firm, his was firm. When it was a light touch, his would be a light touch. Should they used their other hand to know his, his contrary grasped theirs. He was quoted saying this handshake technique creates an instantaneous good impression and likeability.
Likeability?
Yes. It’s just like the way you feel once we meet an unfamiliar person and discover we share the same name. Or much more conversation with a stranger, we learn we share a mutual friend. We magically like that person. For this reason I refer to it as the Magical Handshake.
From this point on, I suggest you never, ever, shake another person’s hand. Instead, let them shake yours. Mirror what they do. If you’re offered a strong grip, mirror a strong grip. If you’re offered a gentle grip, mirror a gentle grip. Remember to mirror the shake too. It’s all about the grip and shake.
The sole exception occurs when someone provides you with a handshake using their palm facing down. As you shake hands, they’ve the upper-hand and are in charge. They dominate. This is what’s called an aggressive handshake.
When offered a hostile handshake, respond by giving them a Double-Handed handshake with a wee turn. Start insurance firms your palms slightly upwards, grasping their hand with both of yours. Then, straighten their handshake vertically with a wee turn as you’re shaking. This communicates in their mind, “we are equal.”
Next time you want to produce a good first impression, provide the Magical Handshake a try. Get it done if you meet and greet people. It’s a straightforward, surefire approach to enhance your likeability factor.
Faith Faith BBE, CTM, NE. Branding Expert, Speaker and Author of Blockbuster Branding for “The Little Guy” – The best way to Rock Everything you Got: business, service, product or book. For more branding ideas visit: www.FaithFaith.net
For additional information about Shaking Hands take a look at this internet page.
Be First to Comment