I remember when my dad taught me the finer points of how to correctly shake hands I was 16 and had a summer job working as an assistant receptionist. That meant meeting lots of his important clients for the first time, a valuable precursor for when I would be meeting important clients of my own.
His directions were simple: Extend your hand for a firm grip and give a hearty shake. Oh, and make sure you do so while you look that person straight in the eye because if you don't, the handshake might seem insincere.
Easy enough. I pumped plenty of hands that summer and never forgot the importance of sharing a proper shake. Indeed, Dad's excellent directions still assist me everywhere I go in this country, from Atlanta to Seattle. But, I've consequently learned, in other parts of the world, a good old American handshake doesn't always cut it.
Take India for instance.
I've visited this massive country a half dozen times, observing and mimicking what is known over there as the namaste. This greeting requires that you place your hands in a praying position, holding them at chest level. Once your hands are in place, you then follow that action with a slight bow.
In India, the namaste also means "thank you" and "I'm sorry", so it's a gesture worth learning if business takes you to Mumbai. New Delhi or elsewhere in India.
In Thailand, the namaste is called the wai (pronounced "why") and when you practice this acceptable form of greeting with someone in, say, Bangkok, you should pay special attention to your pressed hands. Make sure they never float up above your head for if that happens, your kind greeting will immediately be construed as an insult - not a good move for favorable cultural relations.
In some parts of Europe, it is not the length but the grip of the handshake that counts. In countries such as Sweden, Germany and Norway, a one-pump rendition is preferable, even if to us Americans this does seem like a rather curt way to act.
Conversely, in Britain a less vice-like grip is the way to go. Indeed, Prince Charles once commented that he found one particular Texas American's firm grip to be rather "finger-crunching."
In New Zealand, be sure to shake hands with someone the first time you meet him or her as that is good form. However, if you are meeting with the same person frequently during your visit, hold off on the handshakes altogether after your very first.
In other parts of the world, I have found that you have to be careful who to shake hands with and who to not shake hands with.
For example, most Malaysian and Singaporean men are happy to shake your hand, regardless of your gender. However, often a Muslim woman from either country will not shake hands with you at all. Also, in some circumstances (especially amongst the older generation), women should not offer to shake hands with a Muslim man either.
In Japan, greetings can also get really tricky. Sometimes hearty handshakes amongst contemporaries will cut it whereas sometimes this action will come off as crude.
Generally, in the land of the rising sun, when a formal introduction is made, its respectful if you respond by lowering your head in a bow. The lower the bow, the more respect you are showing. However, the longer the bow, the less respect you are showing so do so in less than two seconds because lowering your head longer than that in a workplace situation would be inappropriate.
Another Japanese practice, one I have heard about but never witnessed, is for the greeter to take either hand, bend it at the elbow and hold it at head level as if you are swearing in an oath. I would only do this to someone if someone does this to you. In this situation, imitation is the sincerest form of etiquette.
Finally, whenever in doubt during an introduction to someone, somewhere in a place where the greeting customs are not clear, I think it is best to offer a meaningful smile rather than a hearty handshake. No one, anywhere, ever takes offense with that friendly act!
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