Gentlemen,
Just the other day - I was saying goodbye to some male friends after sojourning to the beach for a surf and one gentlemen had his board tucked under his right arm, so when we went to shake he offered his left. I met his left with my left, and shook it. But that felt wrong. I think I should have given him my right, and put his hand in mine, clasped it, and let go. Please advise on what to do when provided with an unavoidable left hand for shaking. Do I go left, or right?
Seriously.
Danny, CA
Mr. Danny,
There is nothing more annoying than the flubbed farewell, be it the lefty handshake, the shaken fist bump, the awkward half hug, or any number of miscues at the good-bye stage of a meeting. The unifying unpleasantness is a simple miscommunication that leaves the whole group feeling like they just bombed on a job interview. A true gent parts ways such that everyone leaves feeling a bit better about everything.
Danny, in your situation, it was the emasculating half-heartedness of the whole thing – he might have well just waved – that caused the unpleasantness. A gentleman never rushes a farewell; he acknowledges any misunderstanding with a subtle raised eyebrow and demands a bit more from his fellow man as they part ways. You hold your ground and get a proper right-handed shake or change the situation up and go in for the hug. Either way, you should do it with a smile on your face knowing that you don’t settle for a half-ass life - or handshake.
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