Like millions of people around the world, I am currently house-bound (in Norway) due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Among all the visual content circulating on social media during this time, I’m finding the videos of world leaders performing awkward greetings with each other particularly entertaining, but also interesting from a behavioural perspective – they reveal just how ingrained our greeting habits are in terms of culture and behaviour. As social beings we struggle to change our nonverbal habits, and celebrities and world leaders are no exception: The Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg reaching out to give a handshake at the end of a press conference in which she recommended people avoid shaking hands with each other; German chancellor Angela Merkel’s handshake being refused by interior minister Horst Seehofer; Charles’, Prince of Wales, struggle to change from a handshake to the Namaste greeting; and US president Trump shaking hands with people at his Covid-19 press conference, are some examples.
For centuries people from the Western world have been spreading, or arguably imposing, a way of greeting – the handshake – around the world. It has become one of the most common forms of greeting in global business. During my cross-cultural training sessions I am often asked for advice by people who have felt embarrassed or insulted when their hand has been rejected by someone during a greeting “How do I avoid this awkward situation if it happens again?”. The key thing to keep in mind is that in a culturally diverse context, we should not assume that everyone we meet is comfortable with or accustomed to our way of greeting, whether this is for personal, cultural, religious, or other reasons. To reduce instances of awkward or rejected greetings, both during and after the Covid-19 virus, it is important that we become more respectful of peoples’ comfort levels, cultural codes and health – and try to adapt accordingly. In doing so, we will improve our cross-cultural communications, and help limit the spreading of Covid-19 and other viruses.
As a Covid-19 measure, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends social distancing of at least 1 metre (3 feet) between yourself and anyone coughing or sneezing. Further, many governments recommend a minimum of 2 metres of social distance. These distances may not be too challenging to adapt to for a Norwegian person, since we tend to keep quite a large personal space anyway (except with family and close friends). However, people from some cultures, such as in southern Europe and Latin America, where one’s personal space tends to be smaller, it could be a bigger challenge or readjustment.
The good news is that there are many types of greetings practiced by various cultures (and sub-cultures) around the world, that are friendly and respectful without involving any touch and that allow us to adhere to the WHO/governments’ recommendations for social distancing. Below is my selection of 10 greeting do’s and don’ts for during and after Covid-19 lockdown/isolation, that can help us limit our physical proximity to other people, yet still enable us to connect on an emotional level.
10 Greeting Do’s & Don’ts
1. Instead of a handshake – do a ‘Namaste’/Wai
Our handshake favourite will have to give way for now. Try pressing your hands together into a prayer-like gesture in front of your chest instead, this, paired with a slight bow of the head is a widely used and respectful greeting found in India (‘Namaste’) and other parts of Asia including in Thailand (Wai greeting).
2. Instead of an elbow bump – do a ‘Dab’
Some clumsy examples of the elbow bump greeting were captured on video in the early days of the Covid-19 outbreak, such as between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders during the US 2020 Democratic debate, but this greeting involves touch and personal space smaller than the recommended 1-2 metres. Why not use the ‘Dab’ gesture when greeting your friends? The Dab gesture was popular among celebrities and youth worldwide, particularly between 2015-2018. If the Dab is a little dated or inappropriate, perhaps the Shaka or hand to heart (see below) will do instead. (Also, do avoid the Dab if you are visiting or greeting someone from Saudi Arabia where dabbing is apparently banned and considered a reference to illegal drugs).
3. Instead of a foot bump – give a wave
The ‘foot bump’ greeting, considered a Covid-19 safe greeting in the early days of the virus, usually involves less than 1 metre distance, so it is better to avoid this greeting too. Perhaps give a friendly wave of the hand to the other person instead.
4. Instead of a fist bump – give a head nod
Another greeting, popular before the social distancing measures came into place, was the ‘fist bump’ – but as with the foot bump and elbow bump it involves physical touch. A slight upward nod of the head while maintaining eye-contact with the other person is a suitable alternative. Just be aware that depending on the cultural context, eye-contact is not always appropriate, and sometimes considered rude. An example is in some South-Asian cultures, where you should lower your gaze to show respect to someone elderly or senior to you, rather than giving direct eye-contact.
5. Instead of handshake variations – place hand to heart
In some cultures in Africa, as well as in sub-cultures around the world, you might be greeted with a version of the handshake in which the thumbs interlock (or other types of intricate handshakes involving clapping of fingers, shaking wrists, or holding your right elbow with your left hand to show respect). However, touching the person you are greeting is off limits during Covid-19. Placing your folded or flat right hand to your heart is a good alternative and is a symbol of respect in many cultures.
6. Instead of a ‘high five’ – give/throw a ‘shaka’
The high five greeting was very popular in the 70-80s, and is still used widely around the world as an informal gesture between friends, or a gesture of celebration during sports games. However, it should also be avoided due to involving physical contact. Non-touch greetings found in sub-cultures, such as the Hawaiian ‘Shaka’ gesture, popular among surfers worldwide, are completely safe.
7. Instead of a kiss on the hand – give a bow
In some cultures a respectful greeting – often when greeting someone older or senior to you – may involve kissing their hand or head. A good alternative to such a greeting is to give a slight bow while maintaining eye-contact (if, as mentioned above, eye-contact is appropriate).
8. Instead of a hug – give a heart
For those of us who are used to hugging our family and friends, a heart gesture accompanied by a smile could be a good replacement to show someone that you care.
9. Instead of kiss(es) on the cheek(s) – give an air kiss
If you come from a culture where it is custom to give 1, 2, 3, 4, or even 5 kisses on the cheeks, you are better off swapping the cheek kiss(es) for an air kiss from a distance (kiss your hand and gently blow into your hand as if sending the other person your kiss. Make sure you blow very gently, from at least 2 metres away, so that you do not spread any germs :)).
10. Instead of a ‘nose kiss’ – give a smile
In some parts of the world a ‘nose kiss’ or rubbing noses together is a respectful and friendly way to greet, such as the Maori traditional greeting ‘The Hongi’ (temporarily banned by some Maori tribes). For the time being, smiling while looking into someone’s eyes (again, if eye-contact is culturally appropriate to you and the situation you are in) could be a good alternative.
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So while our greetings may be restricted in terms of physical contact and proximity, showing someone respect, love or that you care, is not. As some countries are starting to ease some of the lockdown restrictions, and we slowly start meeting and interacting with more people again, it is a good opportunity to try out new greetings, making sure to keep physical distance but maintaining emotional proximity to our friends, family and community.
