In a world living six feet apart, the thought of a handshake now, for the first time in my life, comes as a surprise. The disintegration of this common greeting carries with it an abundance of unintended consequences, which have not yet been fully manifested. The purpose of this short article is to bring to light these changes so that we may see the effects of our actions in this new covid-19 world we now live in, where rationality has been replaced by mere insanity.

During an interview last March, I was introduced to a manager of a small manufacturing company. On first meeting, I made the motion to shake his hand, which he politely declined. This surprised me, as a simple handshake is both a normal and professional business interaction. Long story short, we bumped elbows instead.

The fear of shaking another’s hand is irrational. It ignores the reality that our hands are in constant contact with bacteria in germs of all kinds, whether we like it or not. By declining a handshake, you unintentionally lay out your insecurities for the world to see. You can tell a lot about a person through a handshake: their level of confidence, the type of worker they are, and what they think about you. Part of me wonders if we’ve collectively used covid as an excuse to hide from each other in this way. Subconsciously aware of our insecurities, we choose to forego this formality for our own egos’ sake. In this, professionalism itself is slowly slipping away, replaced by a world of Zoom calls and remote workers in pajamas.

The reality is, our hands were designed to interact with the world, including shaking the hands of people we meet. Handshakes instill a level of trust that cannot be communicated through words alone. The phrase, “an outstretched arm” represents this point in detail. It symbolizes a willingness to communicate: a desire to associate as a friend, not an enemy. Words can be deceiving, but the act of shaking someone’s hand exudes confidence and professionalism. If our society neglects this simple act, what shall we replace it with? An elbow bump? A fist bump? I think not…

A weak handshake, or a fist bump for that matter, is a sign of weakness and hostility, immediately discouraging the other person to communicate with you any further. When a handshake is not reciprocated well, it changes the entire dynamic of a conversation, which is why shaking someone’s hand can be so challenging. As a young man, I know this all too well.

Handshakes, for me, can be extremely awkward. But every time I do so, I build a new connection with someone. I show an openness and willingness to extend my hand, and offer myself as a willing participant in this messy reality we call “life”, despite the obvious fact that germs, bacteria, and (yes, of course) covid-19 abound.

Dear corporate managers, shake the hands of your interviewees: it will show them your character, the values you hold, and most importantly, what you stand for.