Handshake, Fist or Elbow Bump? Handshake Please!

The genesis of the handshake was to show that neither person had any weapons, that they came together in peace. This small gesture grew to a social norm when greeting someone in business.  

Until March of 2020. Suddenly, because of COVID shaking hands became a no-no.  

At the beginning of COVID, I wrote a draft of this blog post about how I was excited about the end of the handshake. The clammy hand, the bone-crushing shake, the handshake squeeze while wearing rings—oh and the weak handshake! Too often painful, disappointing, and sometimes even gross.  

As COVID continued, however, I began longing for its return. I experienced the fist-bump, the elbow bump, and even a rare bow. None of these greetings felt right. I couldn’t figure out why.  

Why I was I missing something that at times I found unpleasant? 

More research ensued. I found that we want and need touch, and a handshake is an easy way to get that touch. It helps us seal deals. It’s a greeting where we can quickly connect and learn about someone by how they shake a hand.   

I carefully welcome back the handshake. I hope that it doesn’t fade away. Yes, I will carry hand sanitizer and hide in the corner to put a dab on my hands before diving in, but I don’t want it to go away. 

When I conduct networking workshops, I always ask the class what they think about the handshake. The answer is always mixed: half say yes, another half says no. Only when we are all fully back in the “field” will we know if the handshake will survive COVID. 

What do you think? To shake hands or not?