Flubbed a handshake at a Tucson mixer and lost a referral

I was at a networking event in Tucson last month and went for a fist bump while the other guy was going for a handshake, super awkward vibes after that. How do you recover from a moment like that without looking like a total goof?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_charles2mo ago

Joke it off like I did at a Phoenix meetup, saying "Well, I guess we're both too smooth for a regular handshake." Then just pivot to asking about their business and move on.

drew6902mo ago

Used to think you just had to power through the awkwardness and hope people forgot. But a buddy of mine who does sales coaching convinced me otherwise, and now I swear by it. You gotta own the mistake with a quick smile and a joke like "Looks like we're doing the tango today." Breaks the tension and shows you're human. The key is not to dwell on it or apologize too much, just reset and get back to the conversation. After you recover, slide into the handshake naturally and move on. Your mileage may vary but it's worked for me every time since.

oliver_wilson491mo ago

Does that joke line actually land or do people just laugh out of awkwardness?