The handshake has fallen out of favor. Germophobes say that it cross-contaminates. People who eschew the dreaded 'formality' have replaced it with the hug, the double-cheek kiss, the air kiss, what have you. Perfectly acceptable for those we know and love but how about the people we don't know that well or at all. The new doctor, the politician canvassing your neighbourhood, or come September, your childs new teacher or caregiver?
For those of us, and you can count old Lily in there, who don't want to slap a wet one on everyone they meet, the handshake is the proper way to greet people, male and female, you know slightly and introduce yourself to ones you don't.
Have we forgotten how to give a handshake? Very simple my friends and we can brush up in 5 easy steps, which just so happens to be the perfect segue to our new series, Charm School in 5 (a simple guide to brushing up on the skills that help us be our best in five easy steps).
1. Make sure you are standing close enough to the person so that you can extend your arm and hand comfortably without the fear of over-extending, falling over or on top of them.
2. If seated, always stand up when extending to shake hands.
3. Prepare your hand for contact. If you have been doing anything that has left residue on your hand (eating, working, crafting, etc.), quickly wipe them before you extend your arm and hand (no need to make a big production out of it, the more discreet the better). If sweaty palms are your issue, try to keep a little handkerchief or tissue in your pocket for a quick wipe.
4. Shake hands with at least one up and down motion but not more than three times, using a firm, friendly grip and then let go. Unless you are greeting your mortal enemy, there is no need to see their eyes bulge out of the sockets before you realize that you are using too much force. On the other end of the spectrum, never offer someone a limp, wilted handshake. It says more about you than you might think and could give off a sense of indifference to the person you are greeting.
5. Make eye contact, show off your pearly whites with a smile and of course, be genuine throughout the course of this interaction.
For a little more on the art of the handshake, please make your way over to one of my daily reads,
Being Manly where the ever-so-eloquent Vir Beatum does a little more justice to the topic at hand (
and yes, pun intended!).
