Perfect Your Handshake

The third factor in first impressions is your handshake. Fortunately, Geoffrey Beattie, head of psychological sciences at the University of Manchester, came up with this formula for the perfect handshake:

PH = √ (e2 + ve2)(d2) + (cg + dr)2 + π{(4<s>2)(4<p>2)}2 + (vi + t + te)2 + {(4<c>2 )

(4<du>2)}2

Where e is eye contact (1=none, 5=direct), optimum value 5; ve is verbal greeting (1=totally

inappropriate, 5=totally appropriate), 5; d is Duchenne smile—smiling in eyes and mouth,

plus symmetry on both sides of face, and slower offset (1=totally non-Duchenne smile or false

smile, 5=totally Duchenne), 5; cg completeness of grip (1=very incomplete, 5=full), 5; dr is

dryness of hand (1=damp, 5=dry), 4; s is strength (1=weak, 5=strong), 3; p is position of hand

(1=back toward own body, 5=in other person’s bodily zone), 3; vi is vigor (1=too low/too

high, 5=mid), 3; t is temperature of hands (1=too cold/too hot; 5=mid), 3; te is texture of

hands (1=too rough/too smooth, 5=mid), 3; c is control (1=low; 5=high), 3; and du is duration

(1= brief; 5=long), 3.2

If you weren’t a math major, allow me to translate this equation into plain English:

? Make eye contact throughout.

? Utter an appropriate verbal greeting.

? Make a Duchenne smile.

? Grip the person’s hand and give it a firm squeeze.

? Stand a moderate distance from the other person: not so close as to make him uncomfortable or so far away as to make him feel detached.

? Make sure your hand is cool, dry, and smooth.

? Use a medium level of vigor.

? Hold the handshake for no longer than two to three seconds.