There’s something pretty satisfying about a well-timed, well-delivered, thunderous high five. It makes you want to shout “BOOM” and go for another one, just to celebrate the first.
Want to learn how to give arm-quaking, earthshaking high fives? Of course you do. Luckily, we have the science and videos to teach you how to slap around with the best of them.
We believe in the power of the high five here at Revel, we really do. Our workplace is all about positivity (if you couldn’t tell by the smiley logo), and that means dishing out congratulatory (and celebratory) high fives when we solve a problem, have a great idea, complete a project, and you know, sometimes for no reason at all.
But here’s the thing – there IS a reason, even if you aren’t aware of it in the moment.
Let’s talk science for a second. Physically connecting with other human beings, whether it’s a hug, a pat on the back, or even a high five, produces oxytocin, a wonderful little hormone. People sometimes call it “the cuddle hormone” or the “relationship” hormone; it’s associated with building interpersonal connections, relieving stress and depression, developing trust, easing pain, and all of that other good stuff.
With this in mind, high fives make our team stronger, keep our team happier, and even promote our overall health. How cool is that?
By doling out the ol’ palm slaps, we’re making an impact on the overall success of the workplace, but the positive effects carry over. Whether you’re high fiving your friends, your coworkers, your family members, even strangers (as long as they’re into it too), a high five is a way of spreading positivity and introducing some spontaneous happiness into the world.
So, how does one deliver a smile inducing, oxytocin releasing, all around awesome high five?
There’s actually quite a bit of information on this subject out there – and a whole host of variations on the classic “up top” version of the high five. There are three critical steps to the classic:
1. Initiate and follow through: If you go for it, you have to own it. Keep your hand open, your wrist straight, and swing away for that sweet contact.
2. Move together: You and your high five partner need to be on the same page here. Don’t swat at them or lag behind. Try to calculate their movement and match it for maximum effect. It feels extra rewarding when you and your fellow high fiver are in sync.
3. Look at the elbow: This is absolutely essential. Don’t get sidetracked by looking at the hand, or the person’s face, or anything else that might distract you and muck up a potentially amazing high five. Look at other person’s elbow and everything will turn out smoothly, we promise.
For the dozens of other variations – from low five to fist bump, multi-move secret handshakes to the Top Gun “high/low” maneuver – you’ll just have to practice. The basic idea, and the benefits that come with it, are one and the same.
You can high five your way to stronger relationships, a happier workplace, and a better sense of connection with the people around you.
What are you waiting for? High five the person closest to you RIGHT NOW.
