1. the first impression.
Shaking someone's hand is a symbol of friendliness, trust and politeness. It is the most important step in the connection between two people who do not know each other. It is therefore essential to shake hands at all, because a "bad" handshake is better than none at all. However, there are many things you can do to make a better first impression when shaking hands. So if you have sweaty, damp or otherwise unpresentable hands, you should wipe them discreetly and quickly, but then extend your hand for a handshake.
2. firm and determined.
A handshake should be firm and firm in order to convey a certain self-confidence, but you should never go too far. Under no circumstances should the handshake be unpleasant or even painful for the other person. The pressure should also be adapted to the other person; when shaking hands with older people, for example, use a little less force. On the other hand, you shouldn't come across as a "flabby fish". You can practise this with your friends. Once you have shaken enough hands and received feedback, you will develop a feeling for the right amount of pressure.
3. eye contact.
It is very important to look the other person in the eye when shaking hands. If you don't do this, not only is the basic idea of the handshake ruined, you also give the impression of dishonesty or deceitfulness. No matter how nervous you are, eye contact must be made.
4. the right angle.
Both hands should be parallel to each other and with the outer edge facing the floor. If you place your own hand on the other person's hand with the palm facing the floor, it is like a power struggle, you want to show the other person that you are stronger. If this even happens to you with a superior, it would be an irreparable mistake. In the opposite case, you submit to the other person. Parallelism and the right angle to the ground send a message of equality and neutrality.
5. the "shaking".
The aim should be to shake (pump hands) twice, three times at most. Anything more than that makes the handshake unnaturally long and creates an awkward moment. If you want to convey an impression of special cordiality, you can take the other hand and place it briefly on the other person's hand.
6. practise.
Just as you learn to say "please" and "thank you" as a child until it becomes second nature, you can practise shaking hands properly until it becomes second nature. It's best to practise with friends and acquaintances until you no longer need to think about it. Friends can also tell you how they felt about the handshake.
7. shaking hands in other cultures.
You should find out beforehand whether shaking hands is customary in the country you are in (on holiday or otherwise). There are cultures in which this is too intimate or only appropriate for the male sex. Otherwise there could be embarrassing misunderstandings.
