Donald Trump’s handshake has achieved some major column inches and not in a good way. His shake, squeeze and tug in method is a sure psychological way of asserting dominance. In business and in your day to day, your handshake gives the first impression of you and who you are. Here are my top tips on how to avoid the awkward handshake.
Firstly, be the first to extend your hand, it shows you are leading the way. Look the recipient in the eye and hold out your right hand, do not have your palm facing either up or down and smile. Take the other person’s hand in a firm but not vice like grip, you don’t want it to be too weak or to firm. Make sure the web between your thumb and fingers meets the web of the other persons, as this will avoid the limp, half-hearted handshake. Try to maintain equal distance between you and the other person and keep your hand perpendicular to the ground. Don’t roll the handshake or in Trumps case pull the recipient towards you. Shake up and down no more than two or three times. Don’t hold on for too long, a normal handshake should last about 5 seconds before it will seem awkward. Good Luck, the ‘manners maketh the man!’
Stephen Handisides is an international TV presenter, model, journalist and an all-round expert on Aesthetic Beauty and Male Grooming. Stephen is the host of ‘The Modern Face of Beauty’ and ‘The Modern Male Mindset’ TV series. He is regular expert commentator in the UK on ITV’s This Morning, GMTV, Lorraine, OK!TV, Five, Sky News, and BBC radio. Stephen writes for over twenty major newspapers, trade and consumer magazines, with five regular columns focusing on the trends in lifestyle aesthetics and male grooming. He also hosts and produces Sky TV’s MyFaceMyBody and is the brains behind the Global Aesthetic Awards, held in London, LA and Sydney.
For more male grooming tips and inspiration, check out Stephens Instagram @shandisides Twitter @shandisides and his website and blog on www.stephenhandisides.com
