When did you last shake someone's hand?

Is the handshake just another tradition that is dying out?
Is it an “age” thing? 

Any KDS Academy member, visitor or employee with the KDS GROUP will witness that we shake hands. It’s the way we greet each other!
I found it interesting that a professor at Manchester University is writing a paper about “shaking hands”. He comments that, in this digital age, handshakes are being shunned in favour of text greetings. And how sad is that?

A handshake establishes trust – a KDS value. It is suggested that fear and insecurity may be a barrier to this symbol that has been richly used to confirm alliances, cement deals and even end wars.

This human contact opens the door to our evolutionary past, tuning us in to intuition. We take a quick measure of a person from their openness and connection in a handshake. Although it’s true that the sincerity in a handshake can vary, it is always about making contact. Sincerely done, it is a great leveller; a space in which two people meet as equals.

So, when was the last time you shook someone’s hand?
Go on... make the connection.

Posted by Alison Gilbert on 03 February 2010 in : KDS Training, KDS Youth Training, Training corporate, Training employability

2 Comments

Posted by Amanda on 03 February 2010

Well said Alison! you are so right. Technology may be the way forward but you can''t beat face to face contact with a good firm handshake. Your blog was fantastic!

Posted by katie on 03 February 2010

I think the hand shake takes a lot of people by surprise when they come to KDS but when they reflect on it they find it welcoming and unique. katie

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