No matter the purpose of a handshake, it should become part of your repertoire. Handshakes are a sign of trust and help build strong relationships. Relationships are started with and handshake and set the tone with your contact. A handshake is a sign of sincerity and welcome. The palms interlocking signify openness and sincerity; people will judge by the handshake just how sincere and confident you are and if they want to do business with you. When shaking hands be sure to keep eye contact for about four seconds since this will exude trust. It has been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Don’t forget to smile and above all have a firm, enthusiastic handshake. No one wants to share a limp handshake.
Getting a case of nerves with new contacts? Don’t worry everyone gets nervous from time to time and being nervous tends to make your palms sweat. Here are a few ideas for keeping your palms dry.
- Wash hands before going into a meeting.
- Keep your palms open until it’s time to shake hands.
- Avoid closing fists; that will generate heat and sweat.
- Carry a tissue in your pocket to wipe your hands if needed
- If the opposite happens be sure to moisturize dry hands but not so much that they feel greasy.
Since this is such a critical start to a meeting be aware of what your handshake is saying about you. Always remember when greeting someone to repeat their name.
Nothing sells like sincere interest to have the people you meet in the palm of your hands.
