Lessons of a handshake

I am from a small town in Southeast Missouri.  I know it's probably not the smallest town in the world, or even close but when I was sixteen it sure felt like it.  My parents knew just about everyone in town, which didn't really help my sister and I with getting away with much, and my Dad went to the same high school that I attended.  We couldn't even go to Wal-Mart, dinner, or even Auto Zone without my Dad running into several people that were either clients, friends, old classmates, and so on.  So, at a young age I was being introduced to many people older than me and having to shake their hands.  During that time, I learned the power of a handshake and how it changed people's perception of a young girl.

I can still see the image in my head of the first time my Dad had me shake a client's hand.  The man looked at me and stuck out his hand, I was only six or seven years old at the time; so imagine a child standing next to this giant of a man (because at that young every adult is a giant!) scared and not knowing why his hand is out.  My Dad looked at me and said "Meredith shake his hand, don't be shy."  That's exactly what I did and the man looked told me that you should always shake hands when meeting someone.  After awhile the client left and I turned to my Dad asking why he had me do that.  He started explaining that asking someone to shake hands is a polite way to introduce yourself, it will command attention and in the future with the older I get the more respect I will earn not being afraid to shake hands. 

After that first lesson, I was always expected to shake their hand.  If I didn't shake a new acquaintance hand then my Dad would point it out and make me do it anyway.  At the time, I didn't get the importance.  Now I understand.  My Dad was right, not many people are willing to shake hands, they shy away from it.  Not only was I taught to shake hands with someone, but also to shake hands properly.  None of that dead fish grasp around here!  I do have to admit that if I meet someone for the first time and they don't automatically shake hands when I outreach mine, or if their grasp is weak I don't necessarily think of them being a strong business person at first impression.  I'm not proud to admit that I sometimes judge someone on their shake, but it's true.  Now don't get me wrong within seconds of talking my perception is generally changed.

I would like to thank my Dad for teaching me not only the value of a handshake, but the power of one too.

Dad and I this past summer.