About Shaking Hands Body Language

Whether to extend your hand for a handshake depends on the culture and environment. Recently in the U.S. it has become the custom in social situations for women to follow men's rules in handshaking. If appropriate here, extend your hand to shake her hand. This will make it clear that you consider women and men to be treated and respected equally. Smile and make eye contact as you shake her hand in a vertical position with a firm grip. (Don't squash her hand and fingers, and don't overdo it with big "pumping motions"!)

Here is a secret for you guys: Smart modern women will shake hands with you just so they can read your body language. Here is what a smart woman watches for in a man's hand shake:

• If he rotates her hand so his hand is over the top of hers (his palm facing down, forcing hers to face up in his), this guy may be very controlling. She better watch out!

• When he holds her hand so that his and her hands are equally vertical, this shows a sense of some equality between both. In this case the strength of the grip is most revealing.

• If he makes eye contact and smiles at her, these are two friendly good signs.

• If he makes only brief eye contact then quickly looks off to the left or right while handshaking, this shows he is disinterested (or afraid) of really getting to know her.

• If he has a firm grip, this shows he has self-confidence, is sincere, and takes care of himself.

• Weak grip indicates he has a lack of confidence and is insecure.

• Limp grip and limp arm reveals that he needs a lot of support to get things done.

• If he shakes her hand side-to-side, instead of up and down, he is trying to disarm her for manipulation later. Watch out! This guy will cost her plenty of problems later.

• While shaking hands if he puts his free hand on her wrist, forearm, elbow, or up by her biceps, he is very interested in talking with her more. He wants to get emotionally and physically closer to her soon. She needs to stay alert for more advances into her personal space.

So Guys, if you see a new woman extending her hand to shake your hand, there may be more intended than welcoming you. She may be trying to read your body language at deep levels most men aren't even aware of.