Communicating appreciation by physical touch can have a positive impact in the workplace when done appropriately. A firm handshake of greeting or congratulations, a high five of celebration, a fist bump—all are used frequently in work-oriented relationships. Cross-cultural researchers have found that a pat on the back is almost universally accepted as an act that communicates appreciation. Interestingly, business schools have recently begun to research the impact of touch on individuals’ behavior in work-based interactions.2 We hope that such research will continue because we believe there is
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