Shaking Hands With a Purpose
You may not realize that the way you shake hands can affect your personal effectiveness. A weak handshake can make you appear less confident and unsure of yourself, especially in a job interview. I shake a lot of hands in my job and in Toastmasters and the first thing that impresses me is how they deliver that "all important" handshake. Be the first to extend your hand to people to anyone you meet and look them in the eye and smile warmly and sincerely; this shows interest and a positive attitude. Gently but firmly grip their hand, give two shakes then release; it's that easy AND important! When I get a 'weak' handshake, honestly -- it feels like a dead fish -- and doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. Practice on a friend, ask them how your handshake feels to them-- I bet they will tell you the truth! A great handshake can leave a great "first impression" and it's important to feel confident meeting new people.