I’ve been going to a lot of meetings recently, more than usual. Most of them I really enjoy and while too many meetings in one day means staying up too late to get work done, I am realizing just how much I enjoy human interaction as part of my job.

This is going to sound like narcissistic bragging — which I don’t mean it to be — but I do really well in first meetings and interviews. It’s always come easily to me and while I’d like to take some credit, I attribute most of this innate skill to my dad, from whom I got my communication skills, my ability to read people quickly and relate to them, and you know, have presence or whatever you want to call it. (On the flip-side, I’ve never figured out who to have a great phone meeting, which probably has something to do with my phone phobia.)

So for whatever my personal experience of dozens of interviews and hundreds of important meetings is worth, here are my 3 easy tips to help you ace your interview or shine in a meeting:

1. Start with a firm handshake.

I’ve always heard that the initial impression you make in an interview determines how well the interview goes. And in a recent post on the Work in Progress blog Lisa Takeuchi Cullen wrote about research suggesting that a firm grip in your handshake is the key to winning over the interviewer. I completely believe this. When I meet or interview someone and get one of those flimsy handshakes, it leaves a bad impression immediately.

Make sure your hands are not too soft (putting on moisturizer right before the interview is NOT a great idea and if you tend to sweat when you’re nervous, wipe the sweat off your palms before your meeting ) or too dry.

Initiate the handshake. I think this is so important — be the first person to extend your hand. It shows initiative, leadership, and it’s a great way to cover up your nerves and appear confident.

Your handshake should be firm, but don’t cut off circulation to the other person’s hand. Enough said.

2. Sit on the edge of your chair.

I won’t take any credit for this advice because it was given to me by one of my first bosses at a summer job I had in high school. He told me to never lean back all the way when I am in an interview, to make sure I am sitting up straight, and even leaning forward slightly. I thought it was silly to be so detailed about how to sit in an interview but it makes a huge difference. So much of what we communicate is non-verbal and this is a great way to show your interest and focus.

3.  Use your hands when you speak.

I can just hear all the communication experts bashing me for this advice, but I don’t mind. I believe that being animated when you speak is absolutely critical to expressing yourself and showing the interviewer or the person you’re meeting with that you’re enthusiastic about the job/topic. Now, I am by nature someone who is quite animated when I speak (too much some would say) — if you tend to be more calm in general and using your hands would make you feel weird, don’t try it in an interview.

However you interpret this idea of being animated, just don’t sit still like a robot the whole time. Yes, some interviews and meetings are quite formal, but the idea is to let the other person get to know you a bit and you can’t do this if you’re frozen. So let your hands move, make sure there is more than one expression on your face and feel free to shift in your chair from time to time (as long as this doesn’t look like fidgeting!)

Do you have any favorite tips for acing interviews? Please share in the comments!