Does the handshake still matter in business?

Hand shaking is a universal ritual of personal engagement and serves as both a social nicety and a prelude to more important business. If you are meeting a contact or a new client, the quality of your introductory handshake often has a big impact on how the other party views you.

Why shaking hands matters

One of the most significant elements in building successful business relationships is your ability to show sincere interest in a person. This can be communicated in your first few meetings as you shake hands and discuss the other party's background, family, hobbies, etc.

By shaking hands, you make a positive first impression on the people you meet, which, in turn, influences how they feel about you going forward. Your poise, the manner in which you extend your hand, your degree of firmness, and your timing can all reflect your confidence and trust. The nature of your handshake invariably sets the tone for your relationship.

When meeting a business contact, a proper introduction should include a warm smile, direct eye contact, stating of first and last names, firmly shaking hands, light chit-chat to soften the mood, exchanging of business cards, and the ubiquitous, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

The purpose of a firm shake is to convey that you're open and outgoing. More often than not, a weak handshake communicates anxiety or reticence, which can lead to an unfavorable overall impression. Something as mundane as shaking hands can offer a glimpse into your actual personality, by which people will decide how to engage with you and your business.

Getting it right

Given that most people use their right hand for handshakes, you should shift any items you are holding to the left hand in advance. Keep in mind that sweat can make your hand feel clammy, so be sure to pat it dry ahead of time. Other things to consider include:

Firmness. How tightly you're squeezing the other person's hand may be subjective, but your grip should be firm, but not painful. Avoid being either overly aggressive or passive. Also, be sure to grip the other person's entire hand, not just their fingers.

Timing. Extending your hand first conveys confidence. However, if you're a man meeting a woman, wait for her to extend her hand first. If you are seated, rise before engaging someone's hand. Do not close your hand prematurely, as you will inevitably only grab fingers and likewise, release when the other person does. If the other party wants to hold your hand for an extra few seconds, keep holding theirs as well. You don't want to rush out of the handshake, as this may suggest you're treating it as a mere formality.

Contact. In most instances, it's expected that you keep your hand perpendicular. Palm down is considered a dominant position, while palm up is submissive; so try to angle your thumb upward. Keep the palm flat, not cupped. Upon making full contact, lock your thumb down and squeeze firmly, then moderately shake from your elbow rather than your wrist.

Although a handshake is certainly not a measure of a person, it does contribute to first impressions. As a business owner, you should include this practice in all your dealings. Not only does it transcend gender, race, and ethnicity, but it's also a key part of business etiquette that reflects certain personality characteristics. However, as with all professional interactions, the customs and practices of your audience may differ from typical American business standards, thus influencing how your handshake is perceived. So know your audience and shake with confidence!

Guest Post: 5 Basic Types of Roofing Materials - Roofing Companies - NYC

When it comes to renovating the home and replacing the roof tiles, there are plenty of choices for the homeowner. While the different roofing materials will have no problem in keeping the rain out, the cost and long-term durability of each of the tiles can vary drastically. Here are a few of the most popular types of roofing materials:

Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles (also referred to as composite shingles) are one of the most common types to renovate the roof. Most of these tiles are made with a layer of fiberglass mat coated with mineral granules and asphalt. This is an all-purpose type of tile and practical for most homes. They are long-lasting and can even come with a warranty that lasts for 30 years or more. They are easy to install and easily sourced should a few need replacing in the future.

Rolled Roofing
The rolled roofing is a practical and cost-effective choice for the outbuilding or similar structures. Also, it can be used on the low-slope roofs on residential homes. This is one of the quickest methods to give long-term roofing, but isn't the most attractive to look at. Rolled roofing comes in rolls of nearly 100 sq ft and is very effective at stopping the rain from getting through.

Metal Roofing
Metal roofing is no longer limited to warehouses in NYC. This type of roofing can look incredibly stylish even on large mansions. It is a fire-resistant material and isn't attractive to any of the wood-boring insects that attack the home, such as carpenter ants or termites. It isn't the easiest roofing material to install and can be quite expensive. But, it is seen as an eco-friendly option to use on the roof. This problem is usually handled by most of the roofing companies NYC has to offer.

Slate Shingles
Slate shingles are made of real stone and one of the most attractive choices to remodel the home that roofing companies provide for their customers. Plus, this material is relatively easy to quarry and is easily cut into thin sheets. A slate roof is best left to the qualified installer because it is quite difficult and time-consuming to work with.

Green Roof
A green roof is a perfect option for those seeking the more unorthodox or unique type of roofing. This type of roof is first installed with several layers of a waterproof membrane with the green material added later. A green roof is appreciated for its ability to grow plants, absorb rainwater, provide thermal insulation and put oxygen back in the air.

7 tax write-offs small business owners can’t afford to miss

Accountants and other fiscal experts often emphasize how smart daily accounting makes for less hassle come tax time. With a little tax savvy, you could have an easier time filing for your business and likely pay less to the IRS. One trick is knowing exactly what you can and cannot deduct. With that in mind, here are seven tax write-offs small business owners commonly miss when filing:

1. Meals and entertainment

Everyone knows meals and entertainment are deductible when you are finalizing terms with a client over dinner. However, you can extend those boundaries to include business-related conversations, networking events that resulted in a lead, or any other dining and entertaining. Just be sure to keep receipts with notes about who you were with and the results of every just in case you’re audited.

2. Bank fees

With bank's fee schedules changing every six months, it’s nearly impossible to remember the terms of every account and when each payment is due. The good news is that bank fees for your business accounts may be deductible. For example, if you need cash to pay a delivery person and have to use the ATM next door, the $3.00 fee, in addition to the one your bank might charge, can be deducted. Similar deductions are available for cash-advance fees on credit card transactions. These are all deemed legitimate and necessary costs of doing business.

3. Smartphones

Entrepreneurs often lament the amount of time they have to spend on their phones. But if you’re working and/or trying to grow your business from your phone, a portion of the device's cost and the cost of a service plan are deductible.

4. Home furnishings

If you have a home office, you’ll need to have chairs and other furniture to make it a comfortable place to work. At night, you might even roll the same leather chair you use in your home office out into your living room. This allows you to enhance your home with purchases that also qualify as tax write-offs.

5. Extra start-up costs

During the first year of any business, business owners may write off up to $5,000 of start-up expenses. But you’re not obligated to stop there. You can write off any additional spending in amortized amounts over the next 15 years. Ask your accountant how to set up a write-off plan for these expenses.

6. Promoting charitable walks

Charitable contributions to qualifying organizations can be written off as deductibles, yet many business owners overlook their sponsorships for fund-raising walks, support of local Little League teams, and other contributions they’ve made throughout the year. Keep records and receipts for all charitable giving and include them in your next filing.

7. Coffee

This is one of the most commonly forgotten write-offs of all. When you stock coffee for brewing at the office or make it at home while working, it can be deducted as a business expense.

As a general rule, small business owners should keep records of all transactions relating to their companies from the first weeks of the year through the holiday season. There’s no reason you shouldn’t take advantage of all the tax write-offs that are available to you, as long as you consult with a qualified tax professional beforehand.