Get a Grip: The Art of the Handshake

We've all experienced it. You reach out to shake someone's hand and you are offered only their fingertips. Or worse, the limp fish that feels as though the person's skeletal system has been surgically removed from their hand. Clammy handshakes, bone crushing handshakes, even the over-aggressive shake performed with the same force used to operate a car jack. All bad. All problems. To quote Goldilocks, a proper handshake has to be "just right."

It is believed the origin of the handshake dates back to Roman times when men would clasp each other's right arms just below the elbow. This gesture acted as a greeting and confirmed that neither man was carrying a weapon. Medieval knights added the shaking gesture to dislodge daggers potentially hidden in sleeves.

Although handshakes today are no longer a matter of survival, a bad handshake can still kill a first impression. And in the business world, this can be the difference between success and failure.

Thumbs Up

The proper way to initiate a handshake is with your hand extended, thumb pointing upwards. Tilting the hand so that the palm faces down can be perceived as an act of dominance, whereas an upward facing palm indicates openness. Ride the fence on this one and follow Fonzi's lead: thumb pointing to the sky.

Fully Engage

Half a handshake is worse than no handshake at all. European royalty and women from a bygone era may shake with only their fingertips, but in today's business world handshakes should be fully executed. John F Kennedy commissioned a study of the perfect handshake that lead to his signature double-handed clasp. Although you don't need to go this far, you should approach your handshake with similar enthusiasm. The extended hands should touch in the area between the thumb and index finger. Hands should be clasped and equal pressure should be applied.

Off the Street

It goes without saying that casual, street handshakes have no place in the business world. What may be working for Barack and Michelle Obama on the campaign trail will not work for you. Keep the fist bumps, daps, and high fives out of the boardroom.

Unless you have the clout of Donald Trump-a notorious germophobe who avoids handshakes at all costs-in the business world, a good handshake is a necessity. If you think yours is not up to par, get a friend's opinion. If you are uncertain as to whether they are being truthful, ask them to shake on it.