The Ultimate Soft Skill: Leveraging Etiquette to Explode Professionally with Alison Cheperdak

In this episode of the Creator Method Podcast, Gary Lipovetsky sits down with Alison Cheperdak, etiquette expert, author, former lawyer, news anchor, White House staffer, founder of Elevate Etiquette, and Creator Method member, to unpack why modern etiquette is becoming one of the most important skills for creators and personal brands. Alison explains how creators may be quietly losing trust, opportunities, brand deals, and long-term credibility through small communication mistakes, from rude DMs and poor follow-ups to oversharing online and confusing “authenticity” with bad manners. She also breaks down why etiquette is making a comeback in 2026, how to show up more professionally online and offline, and why soft skills can be the difference between having an audience and building a real community. This conversation is a practical guide for creators who want to build a personal brand that lasts, communicate with more confidence, and become someone brands, audiences, and business partners genuinely trust. Apply for Creator Method: https://creatormethod.com/ Follow Creator Method on Instagram:   / creatormethod   Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/creator... Follow Gary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garylipovet... Follow Alison on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevateetiq... Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:00 Why etiquette matters for creators 03:00 Has authenticity become an excuse for bad manners? 06:00 Why etiquette is making a comeback in 2026 10:00 The importance of first impressions 13:00 How to optimize how people perceive you 18:00 The etiquette habit that signals someone will win 23:00 The DM mistakes costing creators brand deals 26:00 Is ghosting rude? 30:00 Oversharing on social media 31:00 Audience vs. community 33:00 What makes creators look insecure to brands 34:00 Why thank you notes still matter 37:00 How to apologize when you offend someone 39:00 Confidence vs. arrogance 40:00 Speaking pace and communication style 44:00 Rapid-fire etiquette questions 48:00 The truth about tipping culture 50:00 Which generation has the worst manners? 53:00 The most underrated etiquette advice