You might not think shaking hands is a vital business skill, but communications consultant Mark Jeffries used it as the basis for an entire book (called, predictably enough, What's Up With Your Handshake? Speaking at the Cognos Forum on the Gold Coast today, Jeffries argued that the handshake creates a vital first impression: "We notice handshakes that go wrong. If your first impression is off a little bit, you'll feel it and your game goes down, and they'll feel it and your perception goes down."
A damp handshake is always unpleasant, and people who shake for too long might be better avoided, warns Jeffries: "They don't care that you've finished shaking hands. They have no interest in your agenda. This means potentially that this person likes to do business their way. They may not be a good partner for your business."
So how do you get it right? Here's Jeffries' simple advice; "What is the ideal duration of a normal handshake? The answer: Two seconds. One, two, then let go." And have a firm grip that extends fully into the other person's hand, but don't inflict injury in the process. If you constantly sweat, wash your hands with cold water in the bathroom before hitting a networking event -- the lower temperature will reduce clamminess.

Marketing whiz Seth Godin is right when he says that the thank yous dished out at the beginnings of conferences, large meetings, and other confabs are usually inelegant, rushed, and ineffective, boring the listeners and not really crediting the helpers. His suggested fix is to take or grab pictures of those you want to thank, and put on a looping slideshow ten minutes before the gabbing starts:

Put each photo on its own slide, preferably with a well designed ID below it (it should be on a black box, with a nice sans serif font reversed out. Like you see on cable TV news) ... String one after the other. Build a dissolve transition between each one. Program it to put up a new slide every two seconds—don't go too slow!—and to loop the presentation.

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The Simple Dollar blog breaks down the standard thank you note into four simple but vital pieces, offering help for those among us who get stuck as soon as they pick up a pen. Author Trent notes that the pieces are very similar, whether it's a note for a job interview, a gift, or any other matter, and offers up a few examples meant to establish or reaffirm contacts and generally keep up social graces. Need more examples of good note-writing? Check out this collection of templates. Photo by scottfeldstein.

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Microsoft's Small Business Centre says that widespread use of email on mobile devices has changed a few email etiquette rules and details seven tips for refining your mobile email manners. The article focuses on improving email you send to mobile recipients, like sticking to subject-line-only messages when possible and keeping emails brief. We've given you our top tips for improving your email etiquette on your desktop, but in the face of increasing mobile email, the way we communicate over email could use some tweaking. If you consider yourself a mobile email guru, let's hear your tips for proper mobile email etiquette in the comments.

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The Just a Guy Thing weblog shares insights into the selfless act of tipping your waiter, your cab driver, the dealer at the casino, or your stylist. A rule of thumb:

Hand over the tip with your palm facing down and shake hands with the person you are tipping, simultaneously placing the money in their hand. What you want to avoid doing is waving the money around and making a big deal of it.

While there's no hard and fast rule for how much to tip in every scenario, at restaurants, shoot for between 10% and 22%, depending on the service, meal, and the reputation of the eatery. How do you decide how much to tip? Let us know in the comments.

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Never leave a sour first impression again during any type of interview. When you first meet someone who is influential, make sure you're dressed appropriately for the occasion. Give a handshake that exudes confidence. Speak eloquently and articulate clearly:

Speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Work on varying your voice intonation. You don't want to come off as a monotone bore. Also, speak the language of the person interviewing you. Avoid slang and jargon not associated with the job you're interviewing for. Use proper grammar and vocab[ulary] that reflects a higher education. If people can't understand you, it's hard for them to like you.

It is important to realise that during such events, the first impression can make or break your chances of promotion or appointment. Be yourself, but be a person you'll like too.

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Today is as good a day as any to put your friends and family first and to make their day. Need inspiration? Socyberty offers ten ideas, from giving movie tickets to someone who has been working quite hard lately to leaving a generous tip to your waiter. Be spontaneous and write a thank you note to someone who has had an impact on you or someone you care about. Lend a shoulder to a co-worker who has had a bad day and add some humour to the events to make them smile. Give a homeless person some food to eat. Read a story to a friend's child. How do you give of yourself to those who live around you? Let's hear your feel-good tips in the comments.

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If you've felt intimidated in non-violent situations and didn't know how to respond, bear in mind that the goal of the intimidator is to take power away from you. You should stand firm and have confidence: do not let him usurp that power. If you are unable to respond because the person is cutting in with additional questions, assume control of the situation and respond slowly that you're not finished explaining your side of the story. Do not shout back. Instead, employ subtle humiliation. For example, if some is hot-tempered and wants to resolve an issue immediately, calmly respond that you will when the individual cools off.

Never let anyone take charge of your emotions. You're the one who is in control. How do you prevent others from assuming your power? Share your tactics in the comments.

Good manners start with good intentions. Etiquette experts postulate that writing thank you notes increases the frequency and quality of gifts you receive. But what if you're stuck and don't know what to write? The Thank You Note Samples site covers nearly every imaginable topic to give thanks for, from acknowledging the receipt of charity donations to expressing appreciation for hospitality arrangements to thanking your potential employer for an interview. Multiple letter formats are available to add variety (especially if you're spending the night writing the same monotonous notes due to a recent wedding). Additionally, the suggestions go a step beyond just the written word. Why not give thanks, for example, with a gift basket? If you want to express your gratitude and feel like you are not inspired, the Thank You Note Samples site will definitely get you back on your toes and you'll be filled with ideas for expressing appreciation.

Ever at dinner with someone who can't look away from the Crackberry? Technologist Linda Stone says this isn't just multi-tasking, it's a case of "continuous partial attention":

Continuous partial attention and multi-tasking are two different attention strategies, motivated by different impulses. When we multi-task, we are motivated by a desire to be more productive and more efficient... In the case of continuous partial attention, we're motivated by a desire not to miss anything. There's a kind of vigilance that is not characteristic of multi-tasking. With cpa, we feel most alive when we're connected, plugged in and in the know. We constantly SCAN for opportunities—activities or people—in any given moment. With every opportunity we ask, "What can I gain here?"

Whenever someone's checking their cell phone for new email while we're in the midst of a face-to-face conversation, I always want to ask if the little screen is a better deal. Then again, I can't say I haven't been guilty of CPA myself from time to time. Got any unbearable CPA'ers in your life? How do you deal? Let us know in the comments.