Handshake Etiquette

One of my friends is an absolute social butterfly and gosh how many people she knows on the face of this earth. Any restaurant or food joint or any place we go to, she has to come across an acquaintance and the pleasantries follow. I guess, in a day, she must be giving quite an exercise to her hands, shaking hands with acquaintances! However, on the flip side handshake etiquette and manners are an imperative aspect of any social set up. However, minor it might seem, these things reflect a lot about an individual's personality. So it is good, if you know how to have an appropriate handshake. The following text will give you an elucidate on handshake etiquette, which could help avoid a lot of embarrassment!

Proper Handshake Etiquette
You cannot just appear in front of someone out of the blue and grab that person's hand and have a handshake. The first step to a proper handshake will be an introduction, either through a mutual contact or when you introduce yourselves. The next thing, you do is to have a direct eye contact with the other person. That will show that you are not shy and it exudes confidence. Then, you can move on to actually shaking your hand with the other person. Extending your right hand and then gripping the other person's right hand, while interlocking them at the webbing of your hand near your thumb is what you do next. Then, complete the handshake by pulling your hand away, calmly and smoothly. This was a brief explanation of an appropriate handshake. But the basic etiquette to remember during a handshake are as follows.

• Avoid shaking hands, if you have sweaty or clammy palms. Clean and dry them in scenarios, where you need to shake hands.
• Firm handshake always works. Although, firm handshake does not mean that you be a bone crusher! A firm handshake is a balanced handshake where it neither shows domination nor submission, but reflects poise and confidence.
• A handshake generally is clocked to be around 5 seconds long. But, if a person wants a lengthier or a quick and short handshake, go ahead and do that.
• As mentioned earlier, a handshake having a thumb to thumb grip is just about perfect. But while you shake hands, let the other hand be visible and unclenched.
• Go through the correct up and down motion and not sideways. The movement of the hand should be from the wrist and not only fingers.
• Waiting till the senior initiates the handshake is one of the primary business etiquette. In a social setting, it is supposed to be ideal for a man to wait till the woman offers her hand. But, women do not mind all the same, if a man initiates a handshake nowadays.

If at all you have initiated a handshake by mistake when you should not have, just go ahead and complete it properly. Leaving the handshake midway will be a bad handshake etiquette. Now, they say it's a man's world, so women need to take care of how they go about the handshake and how they should be given a handshake. So, let's get a grip on the handshake etiquette for women.

Handshake Etiquette for Women
The basic things like eye contact and greeting notwithstanding, the way a woman gives a handshake speaks a lot about her professionalism and confidence. So after the initial greeting, a woman should grasp the other person's hand firmly, but not too tight. A limp hand is a complete no-no. It reeks of a dead sensation. So, avoid that. Do not prolong it and after a round of movement up and down, let go smoothly. Too short or too long a handshake can have different undertones.

In case a woman is receiving handshake, men should keep in mind that they do not have a bone crusher kind of handshake. It is the handshake etiquette which can totally turn off women. Handshake etiquette, especially to be kept in mind by men, while shaking hands with women, is that the latter also hate wet, sweaty and clammy hands. So guys, do not even dream of shaking hands with your girl, if you have such hands. Make sure your hands are dry and then go ahead.

So we can say that ultimately, handshake etiquette is all about common sense, your poise and attitude. Handshakes are the order of the day, be it a social set up or a business set up. So a great handshake, gives a good impression. So, what are you waiting for? Go on, get a grip on your handshakes!