Q:  Most candidates I interview these days seem very well-prepared and I attribute that to youtube.com having lots of videos showing applicants how to do their homework, what questions to expect and how to answer. One thing that still seems to trip up some applicants is their body language.   Some have a sorry handshake, others slouch or fidget , yet others have trouble maintaining eye contact.  Don’t they have videos about business body language on the Web?

A:  Sure they do.  But applicants probably aren’t using “business body language” in their search terms.  And even if they did watch a video about it, it’s not as simple as learning how to answer a question.

This is because projecting the right body language requires a degree of self-awareness and self-control that takes longer to master. But it can certainly be learned.  Here are some pointers.

Let’s start with the handshake. 

A firm handshake with a warm, dry hand projects confidence and makes a great first impression.  It seems so simple, yet I often see it go wrong.  Here’s what to avoid:

• For the ladies, don’t shake too softly.  It undermines you and comes across as tentative.  This is a pet peeve of mine.  So no excuses, if you can pick up a full gallon of milk with confidence you can have a nice firm handshake.  And NEVER do the “fingers only” shake.  You want palm-to-palm contact.
• Don’t over-pump.  We tend to if we’re nervous.  Just one or two “up-and-down” pumps are plenty.
• Guys, be self aware, don’t crush the other person’s hand when you shake. Practice with different people and adjust your grip as needed. Conversely, don’t go too soft with the ladies, it can come across as condescending in a business setting.
• Don’t overstretch your arm to reach way beyond your personal space.   Conversely, don’t pull someone into your space either.  This is a dominance move and comes across as aggressive (you’ll see politicians do that before debates).

Mastering the business handshake alone won’t take you places, but it’s an important step toward mastering business body-language.  Next week, we’ll talk about the role eye contact plays in body language.  Hint, it’s huge.

© Copyright Eva Del Rio

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Eva Del Rio is a human resources consultant, columnist and creator of HR in a Box – tools for small business and startups under 49 employees. Send questions to Eva@evadelrio.com