By Kristen Pearson, Guest Contributor
The limp fish:
I remember it like it was yesterday. The worst handshake I have ever encountered in my life. I was interviewing with a vice president of a Fortune 500 company. The suit I wore was freshly pressed, my hair perfectly placed, and I had been practicing my responses for weeks. I was fully prepared for anything this interview threw at me, or so I thought. I was taken up to wait in the VP’s office and within minutes, a six foot, burly man, who easily weighed 200 pounds, stood in front of me. I took a deep breath, stuck my hand out (figuratively, and literally), and was ready to reciprocate the firm handshake I thought was coming. Then it happened: the Limp Fish.
According to Author Anthony Balderrama, in his article, Why You Need a Good Handshake, employers are “looking for anything to distinguish you from the pack, so they will let the handshake set the tone for the rest of your meeting.” There is nothing worse than a limp, lifeless, cold handshake. I call this type of greeting the Limp Fish. It can leave a lingering uncomfortable feeling on your hand and it is not something you want to be left on the hand of your boss, better yet an employer. Unfortunately, the Limp Fish is not the only type of frightening hand greeting—there are others. For example, when women hold their hand out like they are Queen Elizabeth greeting the people. Or an overly firm handshake where you hear bones cracking, wondering if this is what it feels like to stare into the eyes of Mr. T, as he screams, ‘I pity the fool’ and grabs your hand! Ouch.
If you are reading this and are a repeat offender of the Limp Fish, or just not sure you have a good handshake in general, here are a few tips to remember when you are going into a corporate meeting or an interview:
1. Don’t over- or undercompensate. If you are a man, don’t be afraid to shake a woman’s hand. The man I interviewed with treated me like a china doll; and it was offensive. So men, don’t undercompensate, I promise they won’t break. And ladies, do not overcompensate because you are women. Squeezing too hard can give the wrong message.
2. Sweaty palms. If you get nervous and sweat you can do one of two things: (i) keep a napkin in your pocket and wipe your hand before you go into the meeting, or (ii) carry a small bottle of baby powder and sprinkle some on your hands to ensure a dry encounter. (Do this very carefully, as you do not want to get powder on your clothes.)
3. Practice makes perfect. This may sound odd, but practicing with a family member or friend can help you to refine your handshake.
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