Consciously or unconsciously we all read people and it's true, one can't make a second first impression!
That makes the first impression very important!
My take on reading people at an initial meeting is not so much by their physical appearance but rather by their handshake and their eye-to-eye contact.
Even which one of the two initiates the handshake is telling, indicating the initial positioning of the two.
We might say ... briefly 'sizing a person up.'
Even though the handshake isn't used in every culture, it's a hidden indicator of many things. Simple, yet complex.
The handshake is a quick first read on a person's strength and self-esteem; the 'who' you are meeting. An equal or inferior? Leader or follower? A person of strength or a person that's weak? Someone with high self-esteem or a person who has little self-esteem? All told in a quick handshake.
A petite lady was brought into a rather large male dominated institution in which I was ministering. She was there temporarily to do a hatchet job; she was sent there to find and cut problem men. (Which she did!)
Indeed they had the right person.
I remember being called in to meet her ... it was her handshake that impressed me! This petite little woman had a remarkable handshake, a strong handshake ... as we shook hands she looked up at me, her eyes penetrating mine. In less than a minute we both knew who we were and the basic relationship we were to have. Fortunately we were both on the same side.
I've found the eyes to be, perhaps the most telling part of the body. Indeed windows to the very soul. (When I'm around police, security or guards, I take my dark glasses off!)
Eye to eye contact while shaking hands says a lot too. Eye to eye seems to indicate "direct and honest" and one who is also sizing you up ... while the person who switches his eyes from yours or who avoids eye to eye contact, looking at your face but not into your eyes ... something just isn't right in the relationship between you.
Something says caution.
As most tribal people, Yanamamo Indians of Venezuela don't have the custom of shaking hands but in the case of man to man they may test you in several other ways ... always while watching your eyes.
Eye to eye is very important in Indian culture; it's important in any culture.
The Yanamamo may draw their six-foot arrow, aiming it straight at your heart, while watching your eyes; they may even let it go while catching it at the last second ... watching your eyes to see if you show fear.
The handshake and the eyes combine for a quick read of the person on the other side.
Evaluate your handshake ... how have people been reading you?
