The Thoughts And Ideas Of The Efficiency Coach

This is the third blog post in a series taken from my book ‘ Networking tips for busy female professionals’. Each week, we will take a tip from the book and publish it in a blog post.

What’s worse? A palm-shattering, bone crunching handshake? Or, a being offered a hand which feels more like a limp fish?

Originally handshakes were used to prove that we came in peace and did not have a weapon. Nowadays, we use handshakes all the time – but particularly when meeting and greeting someone.

Handshakes are a sign of trust and help build strong relationships. As a busy professional, it is important that you make a memorable positive impression when you are out networking. Your handshake is just one of the ways you can build a positive first impression. It’s interesting to note that a study by the Incomm Center for Trade Show Research has found that if you shake hands with people, they are two times more likely to remember you than if you didn’t shake hands.

In a study on ‘Handshaking, gender, personality, and first impressions.’ By Chaplin et al, (2000) discovered that a firm handshake is an effective form of self promotion for a female. Research has found that women are more likely to give a ‘limp’ handshake, or only ‘grasp with the fingers’ rather than a man.

Psychologists have found that if you take the initiative and move forward to meet and greet a person, their impression of you will be more favourable than if you waited for them to make the initiative.

Action points:

1. Get feedback on your handshake from friends and family
2. Practice at initiating and offering a confident handshake when you meet and greet people

If you have enjoyed this tip and would like to get more of the tips before the book is published, then read on

If you would like to pre-register to receive a signed copy of the book, please fill in your details in the form, and we will send you sample chapters when they become available, progress updates with the book, and details of how to get one of the first copies of the book.

Related posts:

1. Why your handshake could be damaging your reputation Handshakes are a sign of trust and help build strong relationships. As a busy professional, it is important that you...
2. How to make the RIGHT first impression when working the room First impressions are everything. Get it right, and everything becomes easy. Get it wrong and you are pushing water uphill...
3. Working the room tip 7: Be positive and enthusiastic This is the seventh blog post in a series taken from my book ‘ Networking tips for busy female professionals’....
4. Working the room tip 4: Position yourself so you can see people entering the room This is the fourth blog post in a series taken from my book ‘ Networking tips for busy female professionals’....
5. Working the room tip 5: Engineer who you sit next to This is the fifth blog post in a series taken from my book ‘ Networking tips for busy female professionals’....