Whose Hand Do You Want Me to Shake?            You find yourself in a situation where you want to make an impression that will knock the person’s socks off. My recommendation for the very best beginning is a nice, solid handshake. The perfect handshake does and says so much, communicating character and personality in only a few seconds time.  And you want to be certain that yours explains exactly who and what you are.  The ideal handshake:Ø      Thumb facing the skyØ      Four fingers straight ahead, forming a 90 degree angle from the thumb to the index fingerØ      Firm grip (but not too firm)Ø      Make direct eye contactØ      SmileØ      Greet the person  
What can go wrong with a handshake?Ø      Too firm of a handshake (cuts the blood flow from the other person’s hand or crushes their knuckles)Ø      Too wimpy of a handshake (says you are not confident)Ø      Dirty hands (says you don’t take care of yourself) – If you are in a profession for which your hands are always dirty, have some moist towelettes handy and apologize when you shake hands. If I were dealing with a mechanic who started out by shaking my hand, looking me in the eye and greeting me, they would have made a great first impression.Ø      Great handshake, but with no eye contact or greeting  (try it, it just doesn’t work)            There are several other options for handshakes.  I have heard from many seniors that instead of a handshake they would prefer that the person take their hand and simply touch or grasp it for a moment.  In other instances, some people are just not hand shakers at all.  Some feel it is unsanitary, some feel it is not always appropriate; but in most situations, the handshake is appropriate and makes you stand out.  Think about it.  If you went to the library and as soon as you arrived, the desk clerk stood up, shook your hand and said (quietly) “Hi, my name is Sue, welcome to our library.  If I can assist in any way, please let me know.”  First of all, you would probably be flabbergasted.  But, would this library stand out?  Would you think they had excellent customer service?            Do you want to see this in action?  Stop by Sue’s Corner in Granite City, Illinois.  My mom and sister own this bar, and they introduce themselves to every new person who comes in the door.  They take the time to walk over, shake the patron’s hand, and present themselves.  They explain that the bar is family owned and welcome them to the establishment.  When is the last time you went to a bar and the owner came over to extend a personal introduction?  Next time you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and tell them Dawn sent you.              How do I know this works?  Whenever I am training in the Granite City area, I always include a few customer service examples from the bar.  On many occasions people have told me “I’ve been in that bar and they really do that.” Point made. The handshake is memorable, and it can make not only a good first impression but a lasting one as well.            How is your handshake?  Don’t be so quick to think that you can’t shake hands at your place of business.  If it’s not a standard part of the service now, there’s no better time to start.