This happened to me this morning. I was at work and saw someone I hadn’t seen for a few months, we said “hi, how ya going” and as I offered my hand to shake he became distracted by someone else and half turned away. I was left with my hand stretched out and he was in a position to notice, but didn’t. The longer I left my hand there (I left it because I was sure he’d notice it,) the more stupid I was going to feel when I withdrew it. I eventually said the words that I’ve titled this thread with, “are you going to shake my hand or what?” Now because we’ve both got a good sense of humour this worked out fine and we both laughed, but with other people it might not be the best thing to do (when meeting the President of the USA perhaps.).
Has this ever happened to you? What did you do? Did you meekly withdraw your hand and try not to feel too silly or did you clout the person across the ear and say, “yo, pay some attention man, shake my hand.”
Done both, depends on situation and relationship to the other person.
I’m not much on shaking hands unless it has been a long time since I’ve seen a friend and I don’t do it unless I am sure they are not going to be distracted… (yeah, I pay that much attention in those situations)
I saw an old boss in my office this that had been out on assignment for the past year. We smiled as we saw each other, reached out our hands to shake, and he did the oldie but goodie of slicking his hair back instead of shaking. It caught me off guard, but everybody had a good laugh about it. You should have done that when he finally reached out.
It gets even more difficult when two-cheek kisses enter the equation. Anyway, if you’re anything like Artie from Larry Sanders, you do nothing and cuss them out afterwards.
I’ve only ever done this with people I work with - who I know well enough to know who’s got a sense of humour or not. I’ve had several important clients I will scoot over to meet if I’ve been dealing with them a lot over the phone, and usually only extend it when someone is introducing me to someone, so it’s not very often that I get left hanging, as it’s usually one-on-one, or quite purposely being put in the position of “hi, nice to meet you” with little chance of distraction.
There is only one incident* I can think of that wound up with me extending my hand left in midair… one of my reps at the Christmas party got distracted, I scowled and lightly hit him on the shoulder with my outstretched, ready to shake hand and said “OY!” He turned, saw me, laughed, grabbed my hand and pulled me into a big hug, instead. It was only a semi-professional setting, but I knew him well enough to feel comfortable - otherwise I’d not have… well, hit him or said “oy”.
Might be different as I’m a woman.
There was one other time, but it was with a co-worker, totally, totally unprofessional, there was a rather sweet moment, started with a shake, turned into a hug, turned into a playful shove by me, maybe too hard, hurt looks, chasing through the warehouse, tackled, tickled, and got my leg bit. But I don’t think that one counts. But it was by far the funnest one!
If I was left with my hand out there with no return shake, I would pretend like I was tripping and my outstretched hand was actually out there to break my fall.
But then to prevent the embarrassment of tripping, I would pretend like I’m breaking into a little jog across the room.
But then a random jog across the room looks pretty embarrassing too, so I would justify *that * by mumbling something about having diarrhea, and beeline to the nearest bathroom.
Problem solved, and a majorly awkward moment is avoided!
I don’t like it, I think it’s mildly disrespectful to say the least. If he didn’t see it then fine, if he opted that someone else was more important to talk to than I was, and snubbed me…not even a gesture to "hold on". I’d be slightly bitter.
I rarely bother with shaking hands, I was raised that a woman offers her hand to be shaken if she wants to shake hands and not the man, and I walk using a cane in my right hand [or crutches if it is a bad day.] I am not going to cane juggle and possibly fall over. Guys can deal with it. Actually drove the car salesman insane a few weeks ago [went with my brother to look at a few cars]