Put Your Best Foot Forward

First impressions last. So how can you make the most of an initial encounter? Ann Demarais and Valerie White, authors of First Impressions: What You Don't Know About How Others See You (Bantam), offer these tips:

*Learn the names of the people you're talking to and use them — it shows you care.

*Don't be a faux listener. People who are just waiting to speak tip their hands by saying things like "uh-huh, uh-huh" in rapid fire.

*People are drawn to those who make them laugh and feel uplifted. It's not necessary to be a comedian; just be in good spirits.

*When presenting information in a conversation, mention your source. It makes you seem modest and open-minded. By Andrea Sachs