A Fortune 500 CEO once said that when he had to choose between two candidates with similar qualifications, he gave the position to the candidate with the better handshake.
The Art of the Handshake
Though it may seem inconsequential, a handshake is in fact a serious step in intimacy. In the same manner that animals define and defend their territories, we humans develop a sense of 'ownership' for the space around us. This territory, which is but a few inches, is nonetheless a sort of 'personal space' bubble, and we react strongly if it is invaded. <br>No matter how large or small the bubble may be, in every case the physical contact involved in a handshake requires that this barrier be suspended, if only for a moment. In the manner of a drawbridge brought down to allow a knight to cross a moat and enter the castle, lowering the personal space barriers to shake hands is an act of trust, and so creates trust. In fact, a handshake can be seen as the first step in a relationship.
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