Any extrovert reading this is gonna go "HUH? Well, DUH" (extroverts can be so well-spoken - said with a smile).
However, I bet some of you Ntros are going to relate.
Have you ever been introduced to someone... who didn't offer their hand in greeting... and you didn't offer yours... and the relationship went downhill from there?
It happens to me all the time and I hate it. Maybe I just wasn't versed in the social graces as a child, but I really think that it's due to my Ntro personality. I almost always wait for the other person to initiate a handshake and usually they do.
Great! Onward!
But... sometimes, the other person is also an Ntro and waits for ME to get the social ball rolling. And when I don't, oooooh... it's painful. Awkward. Uncomfortable. And it doesn't get any better with time.
So, the obvious simple solution is to remind yourself to always extend your hand in greeting until it becomes a habit.
Great! Onward!
copyright Jennifer Allan 2007
Never even thought of it that way Jennefer. Coming from the coporate world, social style training was a mandatory class for all executives. It's called a lot of different names but in essence you identify the other person social style and then emulate that syle to a degree to have the most positive understanding and communication experience.
My style proved to be a driver - expressive personality so extending a hand is the most natural thing in the world to me. Perhaps that's why I never saw this as you have through your eyes. An interesting perspective.
Jeff Daley
www.RealEstateInScottsdaleAZ.com
This is from one of your well-spoken Xtros....HUH? Well, DUH!
I know that you are laughing.
Anthropologists believe that shaking hands came from the practice of early humans extending their hands to show that they were carrying a weapon. Kind of a, "Hey, I'm not going to hurt you" sort of thing. This evolved into a means of greeting one another and showing respect.
Neither of these things is a bad thing to do be you an ntro or an xtro.
Bob Mitchell
ValueList
My father taught us to always extend a hand AND make sure it was not a weak, flimsy shake. He does this with even the smallest children. :-)
Good reminder, but also beware that there are some cultures that do not shake hands.
Being raised as a southern gentleman I was tought only to shake a lady's hand if she offers hers first. Oh boy! Now if I meet a lady and she's a Ntro, oh dear, I'm sooo confused! I guess I will have to remeber this is the year 2007.
Ok ladies if I offend you by offering my hand first, sorry! :)
I hate, hate, hate flimsy, weak handshakes! they actually creep me out!
handshaking is a science
I agree - first is best
but do it right as well...
Ladies - a handshake is not a palm down squeeze my fingers type thing. That's considered standoffish in business etiquette..
Ntros... if you get offered a handshake by anyone palm down, that is a dominant action so step 1/8 step to your right and the hand will need to shift sideways to reach you where you can grab a level handshake (vertical!)
Ntros can get dominated easily for not knowing how to counter!