You never get a second chance to make a good first impression!

How true that is. Many of us think that the first impression consists of a person’s physical appearance, their clothes, what they say and how they conduct themselves.

The first impression is all of these and more. It also includes your handshake. The handshake can tell you if a person is confident, less-self-assured or shy. A positive confident handshake should include good eye contact, a smile and a sincere personal greeting. It should be firm but not strong enough to hurt someone.

For example: You are meeting your new neighbor for the first time. You have a small lawn mowing business and you want to ask Mr. Jones if you could mow his lawn. With a firm handshake and a smile, look him in the eye and say “Good morning Mr. Jones. Welcome to the neighborhood, it’s nice to meet you. I mow some lawns in the area and I after you settled in, I would like to talk to you about my service.”

You may not get the business, but do you think you made a good first impression?

Suggestions for implementation:

1. Practice shaking hands firmly with your family members
2. Make sure your handshake is firm and confident
3. Have good eye contact, a smile and a sincere personal greeting
4. Practice so when needed you make a positive and lasting first impression

Questions for discussion:

1. What does your handshake say about you?
2. Do you like to meet people who have a weak handshake?
3. When someone does not make eye contact with you how does that make you feel?

Quote for discussion:

"People only see what they are prepared to see." Ralph Waldo Emerson