The first contact with a person is often made through a handshake or a bow. Handshake is the most common form of making an initial contact, especially in formal business meetings. For more such innovative content on management studies, join WeSchool PGDM-DLP Program: http://bit.ly/DistanceLearningSldShr Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/welearnindia Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeLearnIndia Read our latest blog at: http://welearnindia.wordpress.com Subscribe to our Slideshare Channel: http://www.slideshare.net/welingkarDLP

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CHAPTER-06
THE FIRST CONTACT
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THE FIRST CONTACT
The first contact with another may be with a handshake, a Namaste or a bow.
The handshake.
The handshake is the most widely accepted from of first contact. It speaks volumes on
a person and very often a person is judged by the quality of his two to three secon
handshake.
In the business arena the person who makes the approach extends the hand first. The
usual and generally accepted practice is for the junior person to offer his hand in
greeting to the senior and for the visitor to extend his hand to the person he is
visiting. There is an exception though. If a client visits you at your office, then it is
you who should extend your hand first – the client is always the senior.
A firm handshake signifies professionalism, credibility, competence and confidence.
When shaking hands your palms should touch and the fingers should wrap around
each others (web of the hand touches the web of the other person’s hand).
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While shaking a person’s hand, one should step forward inclining the trunk slightly
and at the same time make eye contact. The hand should be a little bent. The
handshake should be brief – two to three seconds.
Business etiquette is genderless and both men and women must stand to shake
another’s hand.
Etiquette dictates that one should walk around the desk and shake the other’s hand.
The Namaste
In India, it is common for persons to be greeted by ‘Namaste’ which is by the joining
of the palms of the left and right hand with fingers erect and pointing upwards
with the tip of the third finger at the level of the chin or just below the chin. The
head should be slightly inclined. This is usually done when a woman meets man or
a man meets a woman or when one meets those elder to themselves. Namastes
are usually done at social occasions – rarely at business meetings nowadays.
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The bow
In India one rarely bows.
Hugging
As a general rule you should not hug at business meetings.
Kissing the air
This is rarely done at formal business meetings.
At the time you shake a person’s hand the customary greeting is “how do you do” The
reply is “how do you do”.
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