The Lost Art of the Handshake: Why Honoring Your Word Matters More Than Ever

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, a handshake was more than just a germ-swapping ritual—it was a sacred bond. A simple verbal agreement could move mountains, or at least move some serious business deals forward. But alas, in today's world of legal gobbledygook, the value of a handshake has plummeted faster than a penny stock in a market crash. And what has replaced it? A culture where every promise is wrapped in ten pages of fine print, and every agreement requires a lawyer to interpret, and of course the place where folks smile in your face with NO intention of following through.

Welcome to the era where integrity seems to have gone the way of the dodo. Where a person’s word is often as reliable as a politician’s campaign promise. Spoiler alert: this isn’t good news for anyone.

The High Cost of Broken Promises

Back in the day, when someone said they’d do something, they actually did it. Radical, right? But in today’s business world, honoring one’s word seems more like a quaint suggestion than a fundamental principle. And the repercussions of this shift? Oh, they’re huge. Let’s explore what happens when people stop valuing each other’s time and efforts and start treating agreements as mere suggestions.

1. Skyrocketing Legal Bills: When you can’t count on someone to follow through on a simple promise, you end up in a lawyer’s office more often than a coffee shop. Every agreement needs to be documented, signed, notarized, and then laminated just for good measure. This isn't just a hassle—it’s a financial drain. But hey, at least the lawyers are happy, right?
2. The Death of the Quick Deal: Remember when deals could be struck over a lunch meeting or, heaven forbid, a friendly phone call? Those days are long gone. Now, every conversation has to be meticulously documented, every handshake followed by an email thread longer than a Russian novel. Instead of moving swiftly to seize opportunities, businesses are bogged down in a quagmire of "just-to-be-clear" emails and "let’s loop in legal" meetings. Efficiency? We hardly knew you.
3. Deteriorating Relationships: When people don’t keep their word, relationships suffer. And I’m not just talking about those awkward interactions at industry conferences. In a world where you can’t rely on someone to deliver, collaboration goes out the window, replaced by a constant game of "cover your back." Instead of focusing on creating value together, everyone’s busy creating a paper trail.
4. Innovation Takes a Nosedive: Guess what happens when no one feels secure enough to share ideas or take risks? Innovation dies a slow, painful death. Who wants to pitch the next big idea when they’re too busy drafting a ten-page disclaimer to cover their own back? In an environment where everyone’s worried about being let down, nobody’s got the time or the energy to think outside the box—or even in the box, for that matter.

Imagine a World Where People Actually Mean What They Say

What if, just for fun, we all decided to keep our word? Crazy, I know. But think about it: a business world where integrity reigns supreme, where people’s time and efforts are respected, and where a handshake actually means something. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Here’s what could happen:

1. Deals Get Done Faster: If people actually honored their word, we could cut out a whole lot of red tape. Forget the endless email chains and "clarification" meetings. Deals would be done faster, freeing up time to actually run the business instead of just negotiating the business.
2. Better Relationships, Better Business: When people know they can count on each other, they’re more likely to work together productively. Instead of spending time on defensive strategies, businesses could focus on, you know, actual business. Relationships would be stronger, and collaborations would be more fruitful. Everyone wins—except maybe the folks who sell shredders for all those useless contracts.
3. Innovation and Creativity Flourish: A world where people keep their promises is a world where innovation thrives. People feel more comfortable sharing ideas and taking risks when they know their efforts won’t be wasted on pointless "just-to-be-sure" clauses. The next big thing might just come from a brainstorming session instead of a legal briefing.
4. A More Respectful Business Culture: Valuing other people’s time and efforts doesn’t just make good business sense—it’s also the right thing to do. When people act with integrity, they create a culture of respect and consideration. And who wouldn’t want to work in an environment like that?

Conclusion

Are there times when details get lost in the insanity of daily life, sure. Do we all sometimes forget to follow up, absolutely. But I continually see a "culture" that has somehow developed where 9 times out of 10 a person smiles in someone's face, shakes their hands, and then leaves with zero intention of following up on those promises. And somehow that is "acceptable" in today's business world. It's "just how it goes."

The decline in the value of a handshake and a verbal agreement isn’t just about business—it’s about integrity and valuing other people’s time and efforts. In a world where every promise comes with a footnote and every deal requires a lawyer, we’re all poorer for it. It’s time to bring back the lost art of honoring one’s word.

After all, wouldn’t the business world be a whole lot better if we could all just get back to doing what we said we’d do? Imagine the time we’d save. Now, that’s a deal worth shaking on.