There is a best practice for shaking hands, and you’ll find it in this post on How to make a Great First Impression - The Five-Step Formula.ģ.) Gentlemen, you no longer need to wait until a lady extends her hand.

While girls and ladies were once taught to offer their hands in this dainty way, offering a hand in this fashion keeps the other person from being able to shake it properly. If you’ll notice in the photo above in this blog post, the lady is extending her hand in what’s commonly referred to in etiquette circles as the “cold fish,” “princess,” or “finger-tip” handshake. That doesn’t leave you with a great impression of the other person, does it? Have you ever received a handshake that just didn’t feel right? It was as if the other person was afraid you had cooties or didn’t want to commit to fully connecting with you. For more information on this cornerstone of modern manners, check out this post: When to Stand and Why.Ģ.) Waiting to extend your hand, or extending it in a “princess-like” fashion, instead of offering a correct handshake. Our handshake is our olive branch and nonverbal invitation to “Come on over and join in!” Today, especially in a business setting, a woman should always rise (literally!) to the occasion of meeting or saying hello. Outdated Etiquette Rules You No Longer Want to Useġ.) Remaining seated during an introduction. A generation ago there were only a few exceptions to the rule that a lady never stood up to shake hands or while being introduced.

Let’s take a look at the top ten etiquette rules that a generation ago (twenty years or less when we’re talking about etiquette and manners) were the norm of polite social and business interactions that are now considered outdated. By using the most up-to-date best practices for interactions, we’re most likely to show ourselves in the best possible light. It’s one reason using good manners will always make us more approachable, likable, and confident. The good news is that manners evolve and change to meet the needs and sensibilities of the current culture. We can no longer wait 20 years or more until the next generation gets around to writing the rules. With the impact of technology and social media on society, manners and etiquette are evolving fast to keep up because people need the best practices for these new norms and technologies now.Īs a society, we move fast. FREE Five-Day Challenge LEARN THE 25 HABITS OF A REMARKABLY CLASSY PERSON.

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger