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Because of these reasons, the best practice for shaking hands needs to be revised.

BEST PRACTICE
Instead of initiating the handshake, it is better to wait until your customer makes the first move. Keep your arms relaxed, but ready to respond. If they start to shake your hand, you can easily reach out and grasp their hand in return.

Rule 3: Always be approachable and personable

Although it is an important part of your job to seem approachable, watch out for the following problems:

1) Getting caught up in lengthy conversation. When you start an extended conversation, you take your customer away from his or her work as well as keeping you from doing your job quickly and efficiently.

2) Starting a conversation that is too personal. Some people will want to use you as their personal sounding board or confidante, or perhaps you share parts of your life that shouldn’t be shared with a customer.

The best practice for being approachable is as follows:

BEST PRACTICE
Be personable without being too personal. Listen to your customer and let them know that you are there to answer any business concern that they may have.

Rule 4: Follow the Golden Rule

From the time we are children, we have been taught to follow the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The intent of this rule is good, however, following this rule can create a number of problems.

1) Treating your customer in a way that makes them uncomfortable. It is somewhat egocentric to assume that your customer always has the same wants and desires that you do.

For example, if you are a gregarious person who likes lots of conversation and connection, you risk pushing your customer away if that kind of treatment makes them uneasy.

2) Missing an opportunity to surprise and delight. When you use yourself as a reference about what would impress your customer, you lose the ability to be nimble and creative.