The Johari Window is an easy and scientifically proven method to help you increase your self-awareness and your understanding of others.
I learnt this technique this week.
You see, a long time, two psychologists developed a framework to help people better understand their relationship with themselves and others. Their names were Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham. And guess what they called it…
“The Johari Window”
They named the model using a combination of their first names. These psychologists made the right naming choice. Because the Johari Window soon became a widely used model for understanding and training self-awareness, personal development, interpersonal relationships and team building.
And here’s how you can take advantage of this model.
How does this model work?
The Johari Window enhances your perception about yourself and how others see you.
This model is based on two ideas – Feedback and Disclosure. You can acquire trust by revealing information about yourself to others (Disclosure). And you can also acquire trust by learning more about yourself from others’ feedback.
The Johari Window represents you through four quadrants or rooms.
Each of the four rooms represents a personal detail, motivation, emotion, and whether you or others know the information, from four different perspectives.
What are the Four Rooms of the Johari Window?
Two of these rooms represent self and the other two represent the part unknown to self but to others:
- The Open Room:
This part represents your conscious self that you are aware of and that others know.
Your attitudes, behaviors, motivations, values and way of life. This zone becomes your open self because you and others know it. You move within this arena with freedom.
In this room, you are an “open book.”
- The Hidden Room:
This represents the things you know about yourself but others do not know.
The hidden room or façade can be any personal information which you feel reluctant to reveal. Your feelings, past experiences, fears and secrets. You might keep this information private because it affects your relationships with others.
The hidden room reveals deep insights, because how you see yourself is inconsistent with how you behave.
- The Blind Spot:
This zone represents the things others see but you do not know.
Other people are bound to interpret yourself differently than you expect. So it’s important to approach this room with curiosity, not defensiveness. Ask questions to learn more about their perspectives.
After hearing their answers, ask them – What actions and behavior have I done that led to your answers. See your blind spot as a great opportunity to learn and increase your self-awareness.
- The Unknown Room:
This is information unknown to yourself and others.
Underestimated abilities. Repressed or subconscious feelings. Conditioned behaviour or attitudes from childhood. These are examples of the unknown room.
You can unlock your unknown room through varying processes, either by self-discovery or observation by others.
How to use the Johari Window
Your target becomes simple now that you fully understand each room of the Johari Window.
Expanding your open room at the expense of the unknown and Blind spot results in greater knowledge of yourself. Voluntary disclosing your private room in greater interpersonal intimacy and friendship.
Reduce your blind spot by seeking feedback from others. Move information from the hidden room by taking time to reveal aspects of yourself to others. Then explore your unknown room by discovering your hidden abilities or by observing other people.
Most importantly, increase your open room to fully maximize your Johari Window.
What is the Ideal Johari Window?
A person with an ideal Johari Window has a significant open room.
Your goal is to expand this public domain. Do this by disclosing more about yourself to others. Also accept feedback from others.
A significant public domain shows that people know you well and that you are conscious of your own capabilities, emotions, and behaviors. This understanding between you and others improves your own effectiveness and makes social interactions easier.
You might even start feeling like Gojo Satoru at some point.
The greatest in your era.
