People use different gestures throughout the world as simple greetings.In western cultures,the handshake is very common,though it has numerous subtle variations of grip strength,amount of “pumping” involved,and use of the left hand.A simple bow from the waist is used in many Asian cultures,with many regional variations seen.In India,it is common to see the greeting where the two hands (palms) are pressed together and held near the heart with the head gently bowed.The Arabic term salaam,literally “peace” from the spoken greeting that accompanies the gesture,means a low bow performed when placing the right palm on the forehead.And of course,there are also some other long-standing rituals used in modern society,though inclining rare.
■Handshake
A good handshake can make or break your first impression.A proper handshake shows your good personality.One needs to focus on manners and etiquette,in order to grow into a successful individual.There are some tips that will help developing your personality and help making a good impression with your handshake.
◇Stand when you shake your hands: This may seem simple and obvious;however,there are people who mess this up by offering a hand while sitting down or while walking.When you shake hands,always be sure you are standing still.
◇Make eye-contact and smile before you shake hands.Good eye-contact and pleasant smile show that you are really pleased to meet the person you are shaking hands with.
◇Never have sweaty palms when you shake hands.Always make sure that you have clean,dry palms before you shake hands.If you are taking part in meeting new people,wipe your palms clean beforehand.
◇Greet the other person when you shake hands.If you are meeting the person for the first time,say “Pleasure to meet you,Miss/Mr. (surname)”,If you know the person,it is appropriate to use “Good morning/afternoon” or “Hi,How are you”.Make sure you use the title (Mr./Miss/Dr./Rev.etc) and not only the first name until you are allowed to call the person by first name.And when it is the first time to meet someone,using his/her name (last name/first name as is appropriate) will help you remember it,and avoid awkward situations where you need to be introduced again to the same person.