Handshaking—The Ultimate Greeting Shaking hands creates a favorable impression and influences others to do the same. The handshake is important because it is the accepted greeting in almost all countries. Always shake hands when: introduced to a person and when you say goodbye, when someone comes into your office to see you, when you meet someone outside your office or home, when you enter a room, when you leave a gathering, when you congratulate someone who has won an award or given a speech, and when you are consoling someone. Be sure to make eye contact. Smile while shaking someone’s hand. Smiling triggers positive endorphins. A firm but not overpowering handshake is usually a good idea. Be especially careful how much pressure you exert if you are shaking hands with an elderly person or if you are wearing heavy rings that might bruise. Be sure your handshake is both firm and brief. Count to three and let go. Also, use your right hand even if you are left-handed because most people are right-handed.
Always stand when shaking hands and never shake hands over a barrier (desk, etc.). In America, people usually shake hands with two shakes.
Historically, gentlemen would frequently carry swords since they could never be quite sure who their friends were. When engaging in combat, they would unsheathe their weapons using their right hand as the sword was carried in a scabbard on their left hip. Therefore, when meeting someone they considered a friend, they would show that they meant no harm by presenting their right hand away from the left hip, palm open, to confirm they were not holding a weapon.
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