mikelally.net

I love when science validates my (several forms of) crazy. As many of you know, I seem to have some kind of mild fixation on shaking hands. I tend to rant about it. I talked to my 9 year old daughter about it yesterday as a matter of fact. (She gave someone a limp handshake. And I didn’t freak out on her. We had a nice private little huddle over the matter.)

On Friday, Discovery News, posted an article: A Formula for the Perfect Handshake. FINALLY! Someone understands me! Actually, I haven’t been alone on this.

Researchers at the University of Manchester, in northwest England, said on Thursday that the biggest problems were sweaty palms, limp wrists, gripping too hard and lack of eye contact.

Right on.

These same scientists have taken it a step further and developed a way for ALL OF US to excel at shaking hands. They have applied math and science to solving one of the universes most awful experiences…the DREADED first impression.

The formula looks at vigor, eye contact and hand temperature. No sweaty palms people. Neither too warm or too cold. No one likes shaking hands with the UNDEAD.

Geoffrey Beattie, the university’s head of psychological sciences, provides the steps to the perfect handshake for BOTH men and women. That’s right ladies, you need to step up your game as well.

The steps are:

1. Use the appropriate hand (Beattie says “right” hand – but what if you are a zombie and don’t have one.
2. Use a complete grip [mike - no tips of the fingers. You are not a duchess.]
3. Use a firm squeeze (but not too strong) – this is possibility the hardest part, practice at home with your friends.
4. You need a cool and dry palm. Hand in your pocket before hand, behind your back, whatever. Wipe the clammy off.
5. Approximately three shakes – I never even CONSIDERED this aspect of it!
6. Use a medium level of vigor – again practice with friends.
7. Hold it for no longer than two to three seconds. That is one pump/shake per second people!
8. USE EYE CONTACT! THE whole TIME!
9. SMILE!
10. Use an “appropriate verbal statement”

OK, honestly, I don’t know what the last part means. I like a nice, hi, good to see you, thanks for coming, thanks for having me, I’ve been looking forward to this – mix it up.

Go forth and make good first impressions!