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Three Reasons a Good Handshake Will Help You at Work
The science of pressing the flesh and how to use it to your advantage.
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Politicians do it. Businessmen do it. Secret societies do it. Even a well-trained dog does it. When it comes to handshakes, you’ve probably heard all the tired advice: Shake it like you mean it. Grip firmly, stand up straight, look them in the eyes.
But here’s a more interesting question: Why exactly do we feel the compulsion to shake hands when we’re saying hello, making a deal, or burying hatchets? Here’s what the research says about this most common of rituals—and how the act can change the way people perceive us.