The most powerful way to recover is to address it head-on. “If you don’t make it a big deal, then it doesn’t become a big deal,” Cobb says. Something as simple as, “I misunderstood, let’s shake hands” tends to dissolve the awkwardness almost instantly. “That usually leads into some chuckling on both sides, and the other person’s like, ‘Don’t even worry about it,’” she says. “It humanizes it.”
Humor works, too. Goldberg’s go-to is something like this: “We almost just invented a new greeting there!” A small joke gives both people permission to laugh, releases the tension, and moves the conversation forward. What you don’t want to do is freeze, spiral, or start apologizing profusely. “Stay calm and confident,” Goldberg says. “Most people are pretty forgiving, and they were part of the awkward situation as well.”
Don’t take it personally if someone declines touch entirely. People have a thousand reasons for keeping their hands to themselves: germaphobia, their cultural background, a recent illness or injury, sweaty palms, past experiences with unwanted touch, or simply not being a physical-greeting person. “There’s just so many different things,” Glass says. “You cannot take this personally at all.”