The impression others have of us is of enormous importance. We are judged and categorized mainly by how we behave. Whether it's a greeting, a handshake, the way we communicate, or our clothing. Our counterpart perceives everything and forms an opinion about us within seconds. Let's review a few basic rules.
- Greeting - generally, the first to greet is the one who enters the room, or the person with lower status.
- Handshake - a handshake is the tactile first impression. The handshake should be neither too strong nor too weak. When you shake someone's hand, make sure your other hand is not in your pocket. The optimal duration of a handshake is 2 seconds, and hands are offered, not shaken.
- Greeting at the table - if you are sitting and someone comes to your table, stand up to greet them and offer them a seat.
Introductions take place in the first seconds of any meeting, and therefore are very important for the first impression.
Tip: You will learn the most about tact and style when you pay attention to how others react to your mistakes.
Source: Communication and Other Soft Skills, S. Mühleisen, N. Oberhuber