I know the best way would be to ask her but that would be even more awkward than asking here. For context I’m a man (she obviously a woman).
before leaving the room after having a conversation I give her a handshake, a normal businesslike shake like I do with every other employee, but each time I do that, she looks to the ground, smiles and shakes my hand using no force at all. It’s like she lets me take her hand.
To me this means she is scared of me, she smiles and lets me “take” her hand because she doesn’t want to look rude. I’m thinking about not shaking hands anymore.
has this ever happened to you?
It could mean a myriad of things. There’s no telling unless she actually wants to.
Anything from “this person isn’t worth my effort” to “I want to appear smaller/weaker than them” are completely possible. You won’t know the truth… possibly ever. Even if you ask directly it’s entirely possible you won’t hear the truth. Stop thinking about it so much, and since you know that’s how it’s going to be, loosen up your handshakes a bit for her.