BOWING

Bowing your head should replace the handshake as the prime form of physical greeting.
Considering that the World Health Organization has warned that a global pandemic could develop because of the outbreak of swine flu; that viruses are spread from person to person by direct contact such as by shaking hands with someone who has sneezed or coughed into his or her hands; and that the president of the United States only yesterday recognized the importance of clean hands by urging people to wash their hands frequently---it seems a good time to change our practice of greeting by shaking hands.
Handshaking most likely developed several hundred years ago in England as a method to communicate that you were empty-handed and unarmed during a meeting. Now the handshake is probably the most significant gesture in business and in life generally. But its time for a change.
I have long considered that a cheery oral greeting, with a smile, looking directly into a person's eyes, is more important than the physical handshake. However, for the transition, there needs to be some new form of gesture. After considerable thought, I believe a simple nod or bowing of the head is the most feasible. And I cite George Washington as an authority. He bowed his head in greeting people in public. He held his sword in one hand and his hat in the other to avoid a handshake. We needn't go that far. But you could hold your hands behind your back to prevent the one you are greeting from grabbing your hands.