The Johari Window
I was recently introduced to an interesting model which I thought
I would share with you.
The Johari Window model is a model of self awareness and
personal development, it was developed by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in the
1950’s.
The Johari window is made up of four panes:
The Open area; here you find what is known by a person
about themselves and is also known by others
The Blind Area; here you find what is known by others
about a person that they do not know about themselves.
The Hidden area; here you find what a person knows about
themselves that others do not know.
The Unknown area; what is unknown by a person about
themselves and also unknown by others.
Let me illustrate;
Nancy, her family and friends know that she is a very
friendly person – this will be in her OPEN AREA
Nancy does not know that she is selfish but her friends and
family know that she is selfish – this will be in her BLIND AREA
Nancy knows that she is cunning but her family and friends
do not know that she is cunning – This will be in Nancy’s HIDDEN AREA.
Neither Nancy, nor her family and friends know that she is
capable of killing - This remains in her UNKNOWN AREA.
I reckon one must strive to reduce their BLIND AREA by
asking questions and engaging in honest and thorough self-assessments. The last
thing you need is the people around you, friends and foes, armed with knowledge
about you that you are oblivious to.
One must also endeavour to increase the HIDDEN AREAS, keep
those as secret weapons. You can not have the people around you fully aware of who
you are and what you are capable of. Sometimes its good to take them by surprise.
Last but not least, you have all heard the story
about the person who didn’t know they had it in them and everyone around them
cant believe they did it. Well that stems from ones UNKNOWN AREA.
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