Handshakes & The Business Card

1. Handshakes & The Business Card

2. Handling Handshakes • Verbal introduction + greeting +handshake • Used in most business circles • Not shaking hands is often seen as a clear form of rejection. It is extremely insulting to the other person. • Always smile and make eye contact when shaking hands. This combination communicates confidence.

3. How to shake hands • Extend your right hand and grip the other person’s hand so that the webs of the two hands meet. (The web is the stretch of skin between the thumb and the fore finger.) • Shake the hand just two or three times. Give a firm, not bone-crushing, grip.

4. Handling Handshakes • Verbal introduction + greeting +handshake • Used in most business circles

5. The Wrong Way The Limp Fish • Sweaty palms (trying to avoid the handshake or want to keep it as brief as possible) • Usually the other party initiates the handshake. You don’t want to be rude so you ‘allow’ your hand to be grasped, but you slip your sweaty hand away as quickly as you can. • If this is your problem, spray anti-perspirant on your palms way ahead.

6. The Wrong Way The Bone Crusher • The grip is far too strong • The Fingertip Grasp • This is common in male-female handshakes, where the female offers just the fingertips for a brief handshake.

7. The Wrong Way The Dutch Treat • The palm and fingers are held stiffly and there is no clasping of the other person’s hand.

8. The Wrong Way The Godfather • This is the handshake of the dominant person or personality. • The dominant person grasps your hand with his palm facing downwards. • If you decide it is wise to counter this, you can steer his hand with yours into a normal handshake.

9. When to shake hands Get used to shaking hands often. It is appropriate to shake hands for the following situations: • When you are meeting someone for the first time • When you haven’t seen each other for a while • When greeting someone who is entering your office • When greeting a client, a new colleague, host • When meeting someone you already know, but in a different environment, for example: colleagues outside of work • When leaving a business or social event – the handshake provides closure

10. The Business Card Don’t be caught without it • Always have your name card ready. • Keep them in good condition in a case. Have the case ready in your pocket or handbag. • Ensure your cards are in pristine condition – handing out soiled, crumpled or outdated cards wreaks considerable damage to your image. You don’t want to leave a dirty little scrap of card as a reminder of the meeting.

11. The Business Card How and when to present your business card • At an appropriate time. Some time after you have made your introduction and have struck up a conversation, you could exchange business cards. • Depending on the culture of the people you are with, you could present your card with just the right hand (more commonly in Western practice) or both hands (more common in Eastern practice). Name cards are never given with the left hand alone, even if you are left-handed.

12. The Business Card • Glance quickly at the card to ensure it is yours, particularly if several business cards have been exchanged. • Have a separate place for cards that you receive to avoid this embarrassing jumble! • Hold the card so that the print is the right way up for the receiver to read. • Invest in a card case to ensure that the cards you give out are in mint condition. • Reciprocate. If someone presents you his card with both hands, receive it with both hands as well.

13. The Business Card How to receive business cards • When you receive someone’s business card, look at it a while and thank him for it. • You may want to repeat his name and, if necessary, check your pronunciation. • You could also acknowledge his company as being well respected or ask about the duties of his position. • Finally, keep it in an appropriate place, e.g. a pocket or a compartment in a bag. • Never slide it into your pocket immediately after you receive his card. This action suggests you have little regard or respect for his position.

15. Activity 5 Have students do role plays for the following scenarios: • Introductions in a social context • Introductions in a business context, complete with business cards • Other scenarios …