Yes. There really is a day for everything.
National Handshake Day got me thinking about the practice and how the pandemic changed everything.
Ever since I can remember, handshakes have been a greeting – especially in the workplace.
They are comfortable.
A routine that guides us into a conversation or meeting.
We know what to do.
We say hello.
We mention our names when meeting someone new.
We shake hands.
Until we didn’t.
March of 2020 the shift started.
First, the fist bump. (Fun Fact: The fist bump was first researched/recommended here in 2014)
Then, the wave.
Then, virtual high fives.
Articles were written from the Mayo Clinic to the Harvard Gazette speculating the handshake future.
Three years later, we are still wondering about the future.
Sometimes the awkward phase exists where no one knows how to greet each other.
The articles being written now range from “Don’t Fear the Handshake” to “The New Etiquette for In-Person Greetings”.
My Story
Over the years, I’ve been comfortable with the routine of handshaking.
I felt awkward in live meetings just before the pandemic shutdown and in the months since.
Now, I watch as we are all continuing to navigate what the path forward looks like.
Your Turn
How have your handshake routines changed since the pandemic?
Are you able to read the comfort/discomfort of others?
Do you have suggestions from others on how to handle the greeting?