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May 01, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Is your handshake style helping you create rapport or sabotaging your sales and costing you thousands of dollars per year? Successful salespeople understand the importance of making a favorable first impression and know how to build instant rapport with direct eye contact, a pleasant smile and a firm, palm-to-palm handshake.
An individual’s handshake style conveys many important nonverbal messages, such as self-confidence, nervousness and dominance level. For example, if your handshake style is too strong, you’re judged by others as being overly aggressive, insensitive and controlling. Conversely, if you have a weak or frail handshake style, you are perceived as a person who is easily intimidated and too wishy-washy. Here are examples of the most common handshake styles:
Traditional: The palm is slightly tilted up to show openness and receptivity. The grip pressure is firm with a palm-to-palm grip. Match the same grip pressure as you are receiving. This is the ideal handshake style to build rapport.
Controller or Dominator: The grip pressure is aggressive with a palm-over-palm, dominating grip style. This handshake is extremely aggressive and intimidating. If you are on the receiving end of this handshake, the best way to counteract it is by moving your body slightly to your right. By moving your body slightly to your right, you automatically reposition your palm into the neutral position without having to physically overpower the other person.
