I know the basic handshake etiquette of firm, but not too firm and eye contact but somewhere along the way I picked up the habit of using my left hand to also grasp the other person’s hand. Basically I start to shake hands as normal and then briefly grasp the shaking hands in with my left hand while making eye contact and then let go with both. I never really thought about it much until someone I recently met–and shook hands with–made a remark about it. He asked if I had spent some time in another country (Singapore maybe, I forget) because of the handshake quirk.
In hindsight I probably picked up the gesture when I was working for a church and would often deal with people planning a funeral. It allowed an extra physical reassurance without being an actual hug.
My question is this: I now work in a corporate environment and I wonder how this handshake comes across. Anyone have any experience, insights or opinions about it? Is it off-putting, too familiar? Or could it be warm and endearing? BTW, I am a female in management if that has any bearing.
Way too touchy-feely for a “nice to meet you” or “good doing business with you” handshake. I can understand it during a funeral or during the ‘peace be with you’ part of church, but not in a corporate environment.
Save it for people you know (like family) or when you’re trying to stay a step away from hugging (or worse, grabbing their arm while shaking their hand).
I pretty much agree with this. I also do this but typically it’s because I’m close to the person and want to project an additional level of intimacy. A funeral would be totally appropriate, as would condolences for just about anything, or even extra congratulations.
Doing it all the time would diminish the significance during those more intimate moments.
I don’t think it’s too creepy or anything. It’s one level below a hug, and I’ve been known to hug friends, and sometimes colleagues, when the occasion permits.
It’s been a while since I worked in a corporate environment, but this would probably be a good handshake to close a deal, meet a (not immediate) superior you’re wanting to feel comfortable, or a new member of staff who seems insecure.
Being used all the time could come across as over-friendly or even needy. I think it’s a habit that could do with breaking, and only bringing out when applicable. The even more friendly is your left hand on the other’s upper right arm.
I do a similar thing when shaking hands. Not really a grasp with the left, but a quick touch when shaking. I think it’s because I’m a small woman with small hands and when shaking hands with men they would often give me a really sad limp handshake, so this kind of encouraged them to be more firm. Also, I have kind of a resting bitch face, so I try to be extra warm when meeting people to offset that.
This is my opinion as well. There is only a few square inches of a person that is OK to touch at work, and they are all on the right hand palm and fingers, and only when offered to you. Touching anywhere else with anything else is a potential lawsuit. OK, that’s extreme, but that is my rule after having gone thru every-other year corporate training on harassment.
French Canadians peck each other on the cheek to say hello. Another hand on your hand/arm is not really a big deal.
Christ, I man-hug most of my friends if I havent seen them in a while. I also peck lips with their spouses. In fact one of my male friends actually pecks me on the cheek frome time-to-time.
That’s when you shake firmly/decisively (the decisive part is difficult to explain. You’ll know) with your right hand, whilst simultaneously grasping his balls with your left. The left hand gives just the barest sharp squeeze then releases almost immediately (This is important. Holding his balls for more than an instant comes across kinda gay) while the grip with the right is increased enough to keep him from hitting you. Eye contact is constant; menacing yet dead. A smile that is almost, but not quite a smirk is a nice touch. (I have steadfastly avoided the corporate world)
My immediate thought was “that sounds like a politician’s handshake” - in other words, trying too hard to seem sincere. I wouldn’t do it, but on the other hand, if you aren’t getting any negative reactions, it might not be as big a deal as I’m imagining it to be.
And that politician would be one who was a southern Democrat, loosely portrayed as a womanising, very popular candidate in a very good film about appealing to many and be elected for President?