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The Power Dynamics of Handshakes: Lessons from Donald Trump

Analyzing Trump’s approach to handshakes and how to Improve yours

Mentalcodex | Julfi
4 min readJul 29, 2023

We’ve all heard about it. Donald Trump’s way of doing handshakes led to extensive commentaries.

Many viewed it as another folly of the former US president. But, his uncommon approach was actually an effective and fearful way for him to assert dominance.

Introduction

Shaking hands is a timeless and universal way for people to greet one another. It’s a social ritual intended to communicate goodwill. A ritual governed by rules such as appropriate duration and the amount of force used.

Most politicians have unnoticed handshakes.

Why not Trump?

Today, we will explore the real challenges behind what may seem like a simple gesture.

We’ll analyze Trump’s approach to it and how he uses them to remind others of his superior status. From that, I’ll give you tips for improving your handshake depending on your goals

Let’s begin.

Why Handshakes Are So Important?

You form an opinion about someone within the first few minutes of interaction. This initial feeling then…

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