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From TED words: The Failure Bow (also known as the Circus Bow, Avail­ability Bow, or Trans­parency Bow) repre­sents one of the greatest resources in an improvisor’s toolkit. Putting it to use trans­forms the potential downer of a seeming mistake into a cele­bration of boldness.

The Bow first showed up in the work of Seattle improv pioneers Edward Sampson and Matt Smith in the mid-1980’s.[1] They noticed that beginning impro­visors in particular needed some way to interrupt the natural demons of self-doubt and self-judgment. Usually, we cringe when we hesitate or make mistakes, expecting punishment or pain from the outside. Or, maybe we flinch or roll our eyes hoping that if we proac­tively apol­ogize for our inep­titude we can deflect critique from others. Of course, that apology only solid­ifies and calcifies the error, telling those around us that we’re worthy of their judgment. Sampson and Smith suggested that we instead embrace the moment by stepping proudly forward, flinging our arms in the air, and pronouncing a full-throated, goofy-smiled “I failed! Woo hoo!” The move simul­ta­ne­ously takes responsibility—I’m recog­nizing that I did, in fact, ‘mess up’—and lightens the mood, making more space for creativity. Rather than spiraling downward or inward, I choose to respond with good cheer, cele­brating the boldness that led to the failure. I’m learning! I’m growing! Over time, the spirit of the gesture becomes so ingrained that the impulse to cringe almost fades away completely. · Go to The trans­for­mative failure bow →