At your next networking or social event, get out and shake people’s hands. As delicious as the shrimp may be, cocktail snacks alone won’t help you make the business contacts you need.
“Always take the opportunity to introduce yourself,” says Louise Fox, owner of the Etiquette Ladies and MannersTV.com in Toronto. If you are hanging out with the hors d’oeuvres instead of introducing yourself to others at an event, you could be missing out on opportunities to meet potential clients or centres of influence.
Shaking hands may seem as easy as stretching out your arm but, like everything else, there is a right way and a wrong way. Follow this expert advice and deliver a warm, professional greeting every time:
> Rise to the occasion — and don’t reach
Always stand up for an introduction.
Never remain seated or reach across a desk when shaking a person’s hand, says Linda Allan, a Toronto-based certified management consultant who specializes in behaviours in business.
Even if there isn’t a desk or table between you, you still must be careful not to reach, Allan says. The proper distance for a handshake is elbow to hand and hand to elbow. Don’t be afraid to step forward if you are farther away.
> Look them in the eyes
Use your eyes to turn a handshake into a positive first impression.
“The handshake is the welcome,” says Allan. “You are welcoming them with a smile, saying their name, and eye contact.”
> Use your full name
When introducing yourself, give your full name when you shake someone’s hand.
Too often, people give only their first name when shaking hands, Fox says. This informality is particularly problematic when networking because the people you meet will not know how to find you later.
For example, if you shake someone’s hand and say “Hello, I’m Bob,” they’re going to think “Who’s Bob?” Instead, Fox says, when you shake hands, say: “Hello, my name is Bob Smith. I’m an advisor with Smith Financial.”
> Practice your technique
A professional handshake is all about technique.
When extending your hand to someone, make sure your hand is tilted slightly, your fingers are together and your thumb is pointed up, says Allan. That way the other person can easily grasp your hand.
Your hand should be far enough down the other person’s palm that your thumbs interlock and your hand can fold over theirs in a firm grip, she says. Be careful that you’re not just grabbing their fingers.
Pump their hand two or three times and then release it, says Fox. Make sure your hands aren’t wet or clammy and that your grasp is neither “bone crushing” nor weak.
> Be honest if you’re sick
Don’t shake hands if you are ill.
Instead, simply explain that you’re feeling ill and while you would like to shake hands you don’t feel comfortable doing so, says Allan. Rather than being offended, the other person will be impressed that you’re so thoughtful of their health.
IE