Pete Alexander2x TEDx Speaker and best-selling author helping transform burned out workers into engaged colleagues.

Stress Relief Tool - Wear a Costume to Work

29 Jul 2020 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

2:10

In this informal talk, the speaker argues that wearing fun costumes or quirky attire at work—whether during virtual meetings or in‑person—can serve as a powerful stress‑relief and confidence‑boosting tool. By adopting a playful persona, introverted or self‑conscious employees become more approachable, break down personal limitations, and inject creativity into the workplace. The speaker shares a litany of personal costume examples (Batman, astronaut, Gumby, etc.) and notes that even simple items like an ugly shirt or a novelty hat can have the same effect. A former coworker’s LinkedIn message praising the joy the speaker brought reinforces the claim that costume‑wearing enhances morale and friendliness, suggesting the practice could even merit a TED Talk.

Chapters

If you're totally lost with this suggestion, hear me out. The benefits of wearing something fun at work, either in an online meeting or in person, has amazing benefits. When you are in a costume, you get to be a persona that may remove your typical limitations or lack of confidence, especially if you struggle with being an introvert. You become much more approachable because people love creativity. This technique can work for Halloween, your organization's holiday party, your birthday, or any day where you think, "This would be fun to wear." And it doesn't have to be an elaborate costume. Something as simple as an ugly shirt or a hat for Casual Fridays can do the trick. I've worked at many organizations throughout my career, and while I did incredible work and was a high performer, many of my former coworkers remember me most for my creative costumes. I've been known to come to work as Batman, a life-size whoopee cushion with sound effects, a walking billboard of "now hiring" ads for our competitors' employees, Leisure Suit Larry, the 1970s type clothes included, an astronaut, Gumby, you know, the 1960s claymation character, Dracula, an old man with suspenders and pants up to my breasts, and many, many more. This works so well that one of my former coworkers had this to say to me via LinkedIn: Pete, I think you brought a lot of joy to all of us when you went out completely on Halloween or any cool event the company was hosting. I wonder if there is a TED Talk about the act of participating and dressing up that makes the environment more fun and friendlier at a company. I'm still contemplating that idea.