Editing Haptic communication (section)

===Functional/professional===
Managers should know the effectiveness of using [[touch]] while communicating to subordinates, but need to be cautious and understand how touch can be misunderstood. A hand on the shoulder for one person may mean a supportive gesture, while it could mean a sexual advance to another person. Working with others and using touch to communicate, a manager needs to be aware of each person's touch tolerance.

Henley's research found that a person in [[Power (social and political)|power]] is more likely to touch a subordinate, but the subordinate is not free to touch in kind. Touch is a powerful nonverbal communication tool and this different standard between a superior and subordinate can lead to confusion whether the touch is motivated by dominance or intimacy according to Borisoff and Victor.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Borisoff|first1=Deborah|last2=Victor|first2=David A.|year=1989|title=Conflict management: A communication skills approach|location=Englewood Cliffs, NJ|publisher=Prentice-Hall|isbn=0205272940}}{{page needed|date=June 2017}}</ref>

Walton<ref>{{cite book|last=Walton|first=Donald|year=1989|title=Are you communicating? You can't manage without it|location=New York, NY|publisher=McGraw-Hill Publishing|isbn=007068054X}}{{page needed|date=June 2017}}</ref> stated in his book that touching is the ultimate expression of closeness or confidence between two people, but not seen often in business or formal relationships. Touching stresses how special the message is that is being sent by the initiator. "If a word of praise is accompanied by a touch on the shoulder, that's the gold star on the ribbon," wrote Walton.

The most common use of haptic touch in business is the handshake. A handshake in the business world is key to giving a good first impression. However, there are different forms of the handshake that can be given in an appropriate situation which include: a firm handshake (communicates confidence and strength), a limp handshake (conveys weakness and dishonesty), a clasp (use of both hands displays a high level of respect), and a handshake with grip (displays intimidation and dominance).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bailey|first=Britton|date=2018-04-01|title=The Importance of Nonverbal Communication in Business and How Professors at the University of North Georgia Train Students on the Subject|url=https://digitalcommons.northgeorgia.edu/honors_theses/33|journal=Honors Theses|access-date=2019-12-03|archive-date=2019-12-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203225844/https://digitalcommons.northgeorgia.edu/honors_theses/33/|url-status=dead}}</ref>