shirt: H&M ($15) ~ skirt: Target ($23) ~ shoes: Marc Fisher via Macy's ($36) ~ earrings: taken from my sister ~ necklace: chain from another & a pendant from a keychain

Date: September 15, 2011
Ensemble message: I've been saving this outfit all week for today... because today was the day that I met a new client group!  After the Big Project at the Day Job, my team swapped client groups.  I am really excited because I know I'll learn a lot from this group.  But I was also nervous because rumor has it that the VP of the team can be tough to work for.  So, I wanted to dress professionally (hence the button-down and pencil skirt) while also letting my personality shine through (with the watercolor print and colors).

I started the meeting by talking about me as a person outside of the Day Job, and then led to my professional background.  I finished off with some topics/projects that I want to focus on and a request for them to invite me to their team meetings.  And I think I was a success!  I feel like I made a connection with this new group - one director came up to me afterwards to talk about music.  And, the VP even joked about when he has "challenges"... read: when he's not happy ;)  At least he has a sense of humor!

What techniques do you use to connect to a new group?