Shake It Out
I wanted to write this that may assist you in a job interview or making a good impression, despite it being a somewhat tiny detail in your behaviour. Handshaking.
I’ve recently met some people while travelling internationally [check out a whole other page called OnTheBall Travels!] and I immediately noticed how timid their handshakes were. On the contrary, I’ve remembered exactly who gave me a firm, authoritative handshake. Note, this is not something I normally document in my everyday life, or frankly care about all too much.
But why did I remember it? Why did I subconsciously categorize people based on this greeting? Why growing up was I told to have a firm handshake when meeting someone important?
There may be some literature behind it. Published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology reaffirms findings common in business etiquette research that a firm grip is associated with a favourable first impression. Description variables were eye contact, strength, duration, completeness of grip.
Additionally, those evaluated (112 males and females) were also measured on their personality scores. A positive correlation was held (pardon the pun) with a tight handshake and personality traits of extraversion & openness to experience. So even if you’re not open minded nor extraverted, you may be able to fool someone on that next job interview!
This finding has been reiterated in the Journal for Cognitive Neuroscience examining a handshake preceding social interaction. Their findings were that it enhanced the impact of positive behaviour and reduced in the impact of negative behaviour such as avoidance behaviour (no eye contact, no smiling, not answering question).
Strangely, you can go down a whole rabbit hole with the origins and meanings behind a handshake—maybe it’s a little silly to think about. Either way, especially today, it’s an important mannerism that may set you apart from the crowd.
#StayOnTheBall everybody!
