There’s lots of ways to shake hands, right? A few I know are:
1. No handshake
2. The dead fish (limp)
3. The firm shake
4. The two-hander (firm handshake plus the extra support)
5. The high-five
The list goes on and on. Which one is the right one?
The answer is there’s no right handshake. There’s only the right handshake for your brand. In other words, the “right” handshake for you is the most relevant for the story you’re trying to prove.
I use this demonstration a lot in-person with clients, because it makes a powerful point. And we’re not just talking handshakes here–that’s just an example and metaphor. Remove the word “handshake” and replace it with “carpet,” “pens,” “shirts,” “paper stock,” “brochures,” etc. There are two good takeaways here.
1. Even the tiniest touchpoint, like a handshake, can be a powerful way to send a message to someone–telling them how to perceive you. Why not leverage the handshake as a tool for shaping that experience and beginning and proving the story you want to communicate?
2. The important thing to remember is relevance. It’s not the existence of the handshake that makes the difference (anyone can shake hands); rather, it’s choosing a handshake that’s relevant to your message that’s critical.
