Random Quick Facts: Why A Handshake Is Important

Handshaking has been a well-accepted social custom practiced by both men and women of all status. It signifies a mutual respect between two persons both in business and social interactions. Although the origin of this old custom is still unknown, handshaking has been used widely as a nonverbal form of communication. That is why a handshake is important.

Socially, the handshake is commonly used to greet one another in the spirit of friendship and sincerity. Whether you are in a job interview or connecting with an old friend, the handshake is an influential part of society that will solidify our relationship and harmony with others.

Moreover, the handshake is usually the first time two people touch. In the next few seconds, we lay the ground for how other people perceive and feel about us, and we about them. We are seeing, sensing, observing and feeling the other person in an instant.

In business deals, the handshake is extremely important in our endeavors to seal all kinds of those deals, for example to declare peace between two nations, to form agreements between two business partners or companies, to arrange marriages between parents, to close a sale between sellers dan buyers or such. In the past, the handshake can be as solid and binding as any contracts. However, modern business dealings will now need more than just a handshake to honor the good will and intentions between two parties or people, yet the handshake will still signify a mutual agreement and promise between them.

When we fully understand the psychology behind a handshake, and knowing how to perform a proper one, we can then make the difference between, let us say, getting the job and not. Other people tend to make decisions about our personality and character based on any simple gestures such as how we implement the handshake all the time. And as the handshake is one of the most subtle and complex forms of human interactions, it involves fluid body language, the spoken word and physical contact.

Below are five top tips for perfecting your handshake:

Be positive, sincere and genuine: Make sure you look the person in the eye and smile when you shake their hand. A sincere smile will convey warmth and trust.

Be confident: Do not wait for someone to initiate the handshake. Instead, be confident enough to reach out first and make the introduction.

Stand up to shake hands. Do not weaken your presence by staying seated for the handshake. Stand up and greet someone at eye level.

Firm grasp: Everyone hates the dreaded "dead fish" where someone leaves a limp hand in yours. Hold their hand in a firm, but not crushing, grip. Never hold on for too long; the optimum handshake should last for about three seconds

When the handshake is improperly performed, it leaves us with negative feelings about the person who gave us that handshake and it will be remembered that way for the rest of our life. These negative feelings and impressions are surely important because they help us formulate a picture of this person we are meeting for the first time. Those are the reasons why it is also important for men and women of all ages to learn about the art of proper handshaking.

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via luxebeatmag, psychologytoday, direct-recruitment

Photo: FreeImages.com/Shadman Ahmed