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| Upper floor of London Olympia's Grand hall, at Marketing Live 2012 notice the wonderful Victorian iron railings See photo below of what the other side of the red roundels depict |
I overheard a number of instances where either the exhibitor , the visitor or both , apologised for not having a business card on them.
There are of course those visitor badge scanners. They are more a Customer Relationship management (CRM) data capture method rather than a courteous welcoming introduction method.
I accept that the laser beam takes information off the bar code or QR code on my visitor's badge but I always feel that I am being 'branded' like a cow or sheep at a farm when they aim the gun( reader) on my badge.!
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| Close up of the iron railings on the upper floor at London, Olympia's Grand Hall |
I feel that sometimes some stand exhibitors did not want to shake hands but get straight to the bar code reading gun bit, like an eager adolescent on their first experience with a paint balling gun .
Engagement on a stand seems increasingly to becoming an impersonal mimickry of a virtual reality 'conversation' or computer war game simulation. "Friending" and "defriending" I suppose is how many see business engagement nowadays.
Handshakes have been around for a long time but are they going out of fashion I wonder ?.
One of the earliest depictions of a handshake is that of Antiochus
I of Commagene, shaking hands with Heracles 70-38 BC, in the British Museum.
We commonly shake hands
on meeting, greeting, parting, offering congratulations, expressing
gratitude, or completing an agreement.
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| Antiochus 1 of Commagene 70-38BC on display in the British Museum ( The hole is due to a later use as a agricultural press) |
During the Euro 2012 we have seen soccer captains at the beginning of matches exchange gifts such as mementos / pennants/ plaques and shake hands.
Much in the same way in Business, we exchange business cards at the start of the meeting.
BUSINESS CARDS
*The Buyers, views of Salespeople 2012 Data shows that exchanging business cards from the Buyers' viewpoint is seen always necessary 59%, Sometimes 38% and 3% never. So away from the exhibtion world handshakes are still expected.
HANDSHAKING
Along with the exhange of a penant , a prize or a business card, we might also shake hands.
Much in the same way in Business, we exchange business cards at the start of the meeting.
BUSINESS CARDS
*The Buyers, views of Salespeople 2012 Data shows that exchanging business cards from the Buyers' viewpoint is seen always necessary 59%, Sometimes 38% and 3% never. So away from the exhibtion world handshakes are still expected.
HANDSHAKING
Along with the exhange of a penant , a prize or a business card, we might also shake hands.
At award ceremonies such as the film festivals of Cannes or the Oscars, the award winner will shake hands with the award presenter before accepting a trophy or award from the presenter.
Many hands will be shaken along with the presentation and acceptance of the bronze, silver and gold medals on the three step rostrums at the Olympic games in London in just a few days’ time.
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| Photo of the Metro newspaper story of the historic handshake |
The purpose of the handshake can convey trust, balance, and equality and so last Wednesday 27th June 2012 we had an historic occasion for reconciliation between a monarch and a republican in Northern Ireland.
This fortnight we will notice at Wimbledon Tennis Championships the players at the end of a match going up to the net and shaking hands across the net, followed by walking up to the Umpire's chair and acknowledging the umpire usually with some grace ( but not always!)
Handshakes are also significant in business partiularly in sales engagement.
This fortnight we will notice at Wimbledon Tennis Championships the players at the end of a match going up to the net and shaking hands across the net, followed by walking up to the Umpire's chair and acknowledging the umpire usually with some grace ( but not always!)
Handshakes are also significant in business partiularly in sales engagement.
*The latest Buyers’ views of salespeople shortly to be published in full reveals that 91% of Buyers expect a handshake and consider it necessary with a salesperson.
Of course shaking hands does not mean you necessarily like the person particularly.
I knew a trainer colleague years ago who, at the end of a course, made a point of shaking hands with each delegate at the end of a course.
He would walk across the room extend his hand for a handshake and say to some of the delegates "" ( Their name) " I have been wanting to say goodbye to you" whilst shaking their hand..
One could see that sometimes the recipient was not absolutley sure how the farewell was meant.
ie was it - you were such a great person I wanted to make my goodbyes to you
or
merely Good riddance to you!
Forgiving and forgetting ,if that is possible ,can at least be faciliated by a handshake in business as in Northern Ireland last Wednesday by a monarch and a republican last 27th June 2012.
Related Links
Business Etiquete
