The handshake close

Handshake contracts are a form of verbal contract and can be Legally binding. Handshakes only can be a tough thing to prove in court so I would back it up with some kind of letter of agreement. It very much comes from the old days where your handshake was your bond of honor.

In terms of a negotiation tactic, when you come to agreement offer your hand and shake on it as a non-verbal agreement. There has to be three elements.

1. An offer of exchange

2. Some form of acceptance

3. An area of consideration for example a price

There are also some hints for basic business etiquette.

• Saying hello or goodbye in business meetings

• Don’t be too limp, clammy or crushing in your shake

• Look them in the eye when you shake hands

• Stand up when you do it

• Don’t have other hand in pocket

• Keep your hand straight up and down

• Understand personal distance, people from the country will leave a wider gap

• In the old days the man would wait till a woman offered her hand. It’s outdated, treat everyone equally.

Closing

As a closing technique, to older people a handshake is a form of agreement acceptance. Extend your hand then just say something like:

1. ‘here shake on it’
2. Put ‘er there partner
3. ‘deal’