By Chad Canter, personal trainer and certified Strongman

When I meet someone new I shake their hand. It’s one of the first impressions we make. That person will think about our facial expression and the words we choose to introduce ourselves. But they will also notice what kind of squeeze we put on their hand as well.

If you have not made a strong impression on someone in a while with a firm handshake, here are a few simple solutions you can employ in and out of the gym:

1. If you don’t use your hands, start now. Do you use a shopping cart or a basket at the grocery store? Do your carry your bags home with you? Do you use a screwdriver or a drill for household projects? Do you wash dishes in the sink or above it?

You can see the choices accumulating and the convenient answers will lead to you asking your roommate to open jars for you.

2. When you’re in the gym, putting your weights away can be an additional workout and challenge.  Pinch grip all of your plates when picking them up. Do a farmers carry to haul plates back from your station to the rack. Carry kettlebells by your fingertips or flip them over and carry them from the bottom. You can be creative and before you know it you will competing with other trainers and members to keep the gym clean! I’m sure club and studio owners will welcome you back every time.

3. Squeeze that bar! Every time you pick something up or unrack a weight to lift it, try to crush the bar. Exerting maximum force on the bar through your hands will prep your nervous system for the work you’re about to do.

4. If you’re in the gym and not doing deadlifts and pull-ups already, then I don’t know what to tell you.

But I know what you’ll probably ask me (handing me a jar)…

If you do all the above and would like to shake my hand, check out my website powernyctraining.com or email me, Chad Canter, at cca.canter@gmail.com.