Shake hands to reduce your own shaking
Ran across a tip that might help some people reduce anxiety heading into an interview:
make it a point to shake hands with every single person you meet along the way. If you are doing a face to face interview ask if it is possible to shake hands with your host of interviewer before you go live on the air. You will be amazed at the difference this small ritual will make
Speech coach Patti Wood likens going into an interview with entering a new and possibly unsafe environment, so our primal instincts kick in and we look for ways to feel reassured, like shaking hands.
Of course, aside from possibly relieving your stress, shaking hands can increase the connection you make with the people you’re greeting and that’s important to the impression you want to leave.
At the same time, you don’t want to look like a politician on the campaign trail, so I don’t know about shaking the hand of every person at a media outlet - and kissing babies is certainly out.
Posted: May 31st, 2007 under Arriving at a Media Interview, The Fear Factor.