When greeting someone for the first time, a cupped handshake (in which my left hand covers the normal handshake) is a good way to show my sincerity and interest.

A cupped handshake (left hand covering the clasped hands) can be seen as overly intimate or inappropriate in many professional or first-meeting contexts. Standard etiquette dictates a firm, brief handshake with direct eye contact for introductions, without the left hand covering gesture, which may appear condescending or overly familiar.