There is something significant and profound about the way another man shakes your hand. Be it your father, friend or potential client, there are ways of decoding someone through their handshake. What does a handshake say about you? Everything. Your handshake can imply a steely confidence or an unassertive insecurity.
Knowing how to shake a hand properly is a forgotten art. Men have failed to teach others a genuine shake because they fail to realize its importance. Notice how great leaders shake with authority -- power and command amplified through their right hand. What kind of authority is in your handshake?
What a weak shake means
A weak handshake screams a frail inner core. The firmness of your grasp helps someone determine your inner circuitry -- your character, or lack thereof. During an interview, the employer will use many tactics to decide if you are fit for work, and the handshake is often a litmus test right at the beginning. Considering the investment employers make in someone, it is obvious that none would want “weak” in their future.
The bone-crushing grip
How should a handshake with too much power be judged? In truth, just as harshly as a delicate shake, if not more so. When someone shakes too hard or for too long, it suggests negative excess or overcompensation. It makes some wonder what the death grip is compensating for. At least with someone with a weak handshake, there can be no question about how they present themselves.
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Know your handshake for her
There is a sense of confidence, security and trustworthiness in a firm and balanced handshake. The women in your life will take note of this. Radiate that confidence when you shake her hand. A woman wants the good qualities that go hand-in-hand with an assured grasp. Have a weak shake? Don’t be surprised if she quickly loses interest and waves you away.
Rehearse and refine
Practice your handshake every chance you get. Even the act of extending your hand first implies confidence. Ask your friends for feedback. Is it too strong, too light or just right? Don’t know how to shake a woman’s hand? Introduce yourself with a good shake to the first woman you see on the street (and get her e-mail while you are at it).
A poor shake can impact the kind of man you can or will become. Becoming a Better Man begins with the right hand -- so start now. Develop, improve and refine the assuredness of your handshake.
The final word
As you step out of the elevator and into the office where you might work for the next 10 years, take a deep breath. Pretend there is a string pulling from the top of your head toward the ceiling. Bring back your shoulders. Walk to the interviewer with long strides at a moderate pace. Smile. Stick your right arm straight out to shake their hand with confidence. Display with conviction that you are the Better Man.
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