Folks love the Failure Bow. It’s a simple exercise, and it can be goofy, but its implications and ramifications go deep. Thanks to his TedX talk in Bellevue, Washington, Matt Smith’s message keeps spreading.
Just this morning, I watched a short video by Jon Trevor, a fellow member of the Applied Improvisation Network, and got another helpful tweak for the Bow. He articulates clearly how when we applaud the Failure Bow, we’re not cheering the mistake, but the willingness to admit the mistake and move on. We make ourselves vulnerable by admitting our frailties—even the ones that have real, negative impacts—and by giving ourselves the chance to learn from them without shame.
When I’ve recently taught the Failure Bow, I’ve had folks improvise a mistake they’ve “made” and work with that. They make it up. Jon asks his clients to use an actual mistake they’ve made within the last week. He doesn’t demand inappropriate vulnerability—they can choose a little goof if they’d like—but he does request authenticity. I imagine that realness shifts the energy in the room in powerful ways.
I also appreciate the way Jon encourages us to extend that same gentleness to others. So often, even those of us who say we embrace the learning opportunity in failure actually lift our noses in derision or turn away in disgust when others slip up. We attach the failure to the person’s character. We think a little less of them. Jon invites us to offer generosity instead. Engaged with an open heart, the Failure Bow breeds compassion, for self and for others.
Watch Jon’s video here and you’ll get a sense of his commitment and warmth:
