Discover your Weaknesses and Growth

areas with the Johari Window Model

There's a saying that paraphrases the Johari Window Model:
"If one person calls you a horse, ignore them. If 3 people call you a
horse, look in the mirror. If 5 people call you a horse, buy a
saddle."
It just means if there are enough people telling you something, you
may want to listen to them. Doesn't mean they are 'correct', it's just
they hae a reason for thin!ing that way.
The Johari Window Model was created "y Joseph #uft and $arry
Ingram to help understand how we process information and our self
awareness. Within the Johari Window Model there are % &uadrants:
Quadrant 1: Open
These are traits that are out in the open. These are the things you and
other people !now a"out you.
Ideally you want to hae the 'open' window as large as possi"le. In a
team environment, this is where we are most productive or
constructive
This open area is where there is a higher leel of trust and good
communication. When things are 'out in the open' (good or "ad), the
group !nows where eery"ody is coming from and it allows easier
communication.
Quadrant !: "lind
These are the things a"out you that you are not aware of "ut other
people see. *haracteristics in this &uadrant can "e the most important
&uadrant for you to use.
This &uadrant, is pro"a"ly the most sensitie to proide feed"ac! than
the other + &uadrants, especially if it's not a positie characteristic.
There are areas in life where we may really "e worse than we thin!,
and the "est way is to just "e open to (or gie) constructie feed"ac!.
It#s not easy when when we are kept in the dark a$out thin%s, $ut
not all o& us are ready to accept this kind o& &eed$ack
The process of getting in-depth feed"ac! is part of self actuali.ation
within /"raham Maslow's $ierarchy of 0eeds deelopment model.
Quadrant ': (idden
These are things that you !now a"out that others do not. )he hidden
sel& could $e &eelin%s, talents, in&ormation *secrets+, &ears or
anything that a person does not ma!e !nown to others.
It could "e something deep or something 'light'. 1or instance, a guy
who li!es watching romance films (shhh2) and doesn't tell his spouse
"ecause he wants to "e perceied more as a 'man'. Where in reality it
could "e holding "ac! the happiness of that person "ecause the spouse
would loe to do those !ind of things.
The point is, there are some things that don't need to "e !ept hidden,
"ut that choice should "e made "y of us and not imposed "y others.
We all have secrets, -ust $e sure it#s not holdin% you $ack in some
way /fter all, the more we reeal a"out ourseles in a high trust
enironment the more effectie your your team will "e.
Quadrant .: /nknown
These are the things a"out you that you and others do not !now. This
area represents the opportunity to e3plore new ideas a"out yourself.
Within the unknown window lies your hidden a$ilities or skills
This is the area where you hae the opportunity to e3plore new things.
4ince they are un!nown, there's usually less pressure on you to 'try'
the things in this window.
On the other hand, within the unknown lies repressed &eelin%s,
unknown &ears, $ehaviors conditioned since you were a child It
all depends on what you wish to analy.e and the end goal you wish to
achiee through such analysis.
The Johari Window Model a useful tool in self analysis: after all, you
cannot consciously change what you don't !now. The !ey is to "e
open to the feed"ac! other people are giing you. 5ery"ody !nows
at least some"ody that has some glaring "lind spots and just won't
listen.
)his model can $e applied to -ust a$out any area where there are
more than 1 person *$usiness, &amily, etc+ 0ou could use this to
analy1e emotions, $usiness activities, skills evaluation, personality
traits, etc
Johari Window 23ercise
$ere's an e3ercise the founders of the Johari Window Model came up with that
could "e a good starting point.
6. 7ic! the 8-9 characteristics that represents yourself from the list "elow
:. Then hae 8-9 other people pic! 8-9 characteristics that represents you
from the list "elow
+. 1rom there you can "uild your own simple Johari Window Model
o *ategori.e as open 1or the traits that at least one other person
identified that you identified
o *ategori.e as ;lind for all traits that others hae listed and you did
not
o *ategori.e as $idden for all traits you listed that others did not list
o *ategori.e the rest of the traits as 'un!nown'
0egatie <ualities
In conclusion, the Johari Window Model is a simple tool to discoer
strengths, "lind spots and areas to e3plore. )his &eed$ack model
works $est in a team environment that has a hi%h level o& trust
a"le
accepting
adapta"le
"old
"rae
calm
caring
cheerful
cleer
comple3
confident
dependa"le
dignified
energetic
e3troerted
friendly
giing
happy
helpful
idealistic
independent
ingenious
intelligent
introerted
!ind
!nowledgea"le
logical
loing
mature
modest
nerous
o"serant
organi.ed
patient
powerful
proud
&uiet
reflectie
rela3ed
religious
responsie
searching
self-assertie
self-conscious
sensi"le
sentimental
shy
silly
smart
spontaneous
sympathetic
tense
trustworthy
warm
wise
witty
"las=
"oastful
"rash
callous
chaotic
childish
cold
cowardly
creepy
cruel
cynical
distant
dispassionate
dull
em"arrassed
foolish
glum
hostile
humorless
ignorant
impatient
imperceptie
inane
inattentie
incompetent
infle3i"le
insecure
insensitie
intolerant
irrational
irresponsi"le
lethargic
loud
needy
oer dramatic
panic!y
passie
predicta"le
rash
selfish
self-satisfied
simple
smug
stupid
timid
unethical
unhappy
unhelpful
unimaginatie
unrelia"le
acuous
iolent
ulgar
wea!
withdrawn
To "e effectie, "e sure to analy.e the positie and negatie &ualities,
use feed"ac! to your adantage, it can pay diidends.