Manssentials #2: The Handshake

The handshake is an important part of the formal greeting. In the professional world, chances are you will shake hands with up to 90% of the people you meet. Maybe more, maybe less. I'm just guessing. But I know it's a lot. It's important to have a good one. Below are five guidelines for having a proper handshake that will make a lasting, positive, impression with the person you're shaking hands with.

#1. The Grip: Your grip should be firm, your counterpart should know that they're shaking hands with someone. However, you're not trying to break their hand, either. It's possible to be firm without a death grip. No one should be in pain after a handshake. It is also important to keep your wrist firm, not limp. Show confidence in yourself by being firm. When shaking hands with a woman, you should loosen your grip accordingly, but keep your wrist locked.

#2. Eye Contact: When shaking hands, it's important to look the other person in the eye. Looking away makes you appear uninterested, looking down makes you appear timid, and looking up makes you look weird or crazy. Looking the other person in the eye shows respect and also confidence in yourself.

#3. Speaking: Speak up, and speak firm. No handshake is complete without some sort of verbal acknowledgement. "Nice to meet you," "Glad to be hear," "Pleasure doing business with you," or "See you later," are all appropriate responses when shaking hands, depending on the situation. Be sure to enunciate, but as the old mantra goes, "say it, don't spray it."

#4. Grooming: When you shake hands with someone, they will look at your hand. Following that, they will judge you based on the condition of your hand. I'm not saying to get a manicure (actually, I'm saying if you're a man, DON'T get a manicure), but its important to have a clean hand. Nails should be clean and trimmed, and your hands should've been washed sometime fairly recently.

#5. Posture: People have been teaching us proper posture since grade school. The lessons should continue for the handshake, which is really a gesture of the entire body. Don't be hunchbacked or slouched when shaking hands. It's important to make your presence known. Having hunched shoulders will make you appear timid, weak, or small. Stand strong, stand proud.