Top Etiquette Expert: The Signals You're Sending That Are Costing You

“Etiquette, and the concept behind it, is accessible, and it's for everyone.” – Elaine Swann In this episode of Awf The Record , Elaine joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi for a crash course in modern etiquette, from fine dining, networking, Zoom meetings, and corporate happy hours to dating, ghosting, apologies, compliments, and navigating luxury spaces without feeling like you do not belong. She breaks down what the rich actually do differently, why confidence is often quieter than we think, and how the habits we overlook, like oversharing, arguing to prove a point, or making people wait, may be quietly sabotaging us.

KEY POINTS 00:00 - Cold open: Elaine Swann previews the etiquette mistakes quietly sabotaging you 01:38 - Introduction to Elaine Swann and the crash course in modern etiquette 02:38 - Etiquette is about how you show up and how you make people feel 09:22 - The handshake mistake people still make in professional settings 11:37 - Why we need to bring back greeting people and being neighborly 14:14 - How eye contact, posture, body language, and voice signal confidence 18:00 - Why hosts should start on time and honor the people who are present 22:03 - What the rich and famous actually do differently with luxury etiquette 27:55 - Fine dining rules that help you feel more confident at the table 32:58 - Relationship etiquette and the “shower rule” 38:23 - The proper way to accept an apology and receive a compliment 40:54 - Is etiquette rooted in white supremacy or used to police people of color? 44:42 - How to navigate alcohol and relationship-building in corporate spaces 47:28 - Go Off or Log Off: Elaine rules on modern etiquette dilemmas QUOTES “Etiquette is being aware of how you present yourself to other people, and it is also, it also has to do with how you make others feel.” – Elaine Swann “Every single thing that comes out of your mouth, and every single thing you do becomes some part of somebody's history.” – Elaine Swann “Honor the people who are present.” – Elaine Swann “In relationships, you cannot change people. What you have to do is sometimes shift and turn that nozzle the other way.” – Elaine Swann GUEST RESOURCES Elaine Swann Website | IG | RESOURCES: Keep in touch with Awf The Record - Youtube: Instagram: TikTok: Mona Kosar Abdi IG | Jeannette Reyes IG | Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Visit our website: Follow Mona on TikTok and IG Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG