What is the Johari Window? The Perfect Tool to Improve Interpersonal Communication!

In everyday life, interpersonal relationships play an important role, whether in the relationship with co-workers, family, or friends. Interpersonal relationships serve as a foundation in the way we see, think, and act about the world around us.

The Johari Window Model is the perfect tool to evaluate your performance as a communicator and to understand your relationships within your workgroup and yourself.

The topics covered here in this article are essential for you to better understand this important subject, we will talk about:

• What is the Concept of the Johari Window?
• Why is the Johari Window Important in the Workplace?
• How does the Johari Window Model Work?
• What are the 4 basic Johari Window Models?
• How do You Use the Johari Window for Self-Awareness?
• 7 Tips to Improve Interpersonal Relationships at Work
• Being a Great Communicator is a Leadership Skill?

What is the Concept of the Johari Window?

The Johari Window is a tool created in 1955 by american psychologists Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham (Jo + Hari).

The idea was derived as the upshot of the group dynamics at the University of California.

The instrument is based on a graphic representation for visualizing the interpersonal relationships dynamics (and, consequently, possibilities for exchanging learning) in a given group or organization.

Why is the Johari Window Important in the Workplace?

The importance of the Johari Window is to enable visual knowledge about the way individuals involved in a group relate to other people.

Such an understanding of these different modes of functioning should be used as a starting point to facilitate interpersonal communication and relationships within a group.

The ability to know how to identify and deal with emotions has become one of the most sought-after in the entire market, as it is responsible for approximately 58% of our professional performance.

Translating into actions, this ability can be described through features such as:

• Understand your own emotions and be aware of reasoning with them to control your actions;
• Understand how the people around you feel;
• Realize the behavior relationships of your work team and understand the path of actions to improve convivial situations;
• Influence People;
• Stand out and become an inspiring leader capable of motivating and enhancing the work of an entire team.

How to Become a Great Leader?

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Discover the Leadership Development Program for FREE, which prepares you to be a complete leader through personal development, communication techniques, feedback practices and coaching concepts to help you achieve high performance.

Do you know the importance of self-knowledge in shaping a true leader? Knowing your options and weaknesses is fundamental for you to be ahead of a team and be prepared for the most adverse situations.

How does the Johari Window Model Work?

The Johari Window, whose name already says, has a structure that resembles a "window".

It is a graphic instrument divided into four areas (open, hidden, blind, and unknown), which are related to four different selves, according to your self-knowledge and the knowledge of others about you.

See the graphic representation below:

Open area: quadrant referring to points of your own knowledge and also of the knowledge of others

Blind area: quadrant referring to points known only to others, unknown to you

Hidden area: quadrant referring to points known only to you, unknown to others

Unknown area: quadrant referring to points unknown to you and others.

The Johari Window Model functioning is related to a person’s ego and modifications  can happen through two actions:

• Ask for feedback: this search for feedback aims to provide the individual with a perception of how he is seen by others. Therefore, it is an opportunity to identify behaviors that are negatively affecting the other and, based on that, to reassess their actions and seek to develop in this regard. It's a development direction towards its best version!
• Giving feedback: the action of offering feedback to the other is a way of not only helping the other with a direction of possible development but also contributing to their self-knowledge: the content of feedback tells how much behavior x affects you in some way.

Ask yourself: Why does this affect me? What feelings did it bring me? What is my reaction to that?

What are the 4 basic Johari Window Models?

The “4 selves” of the Johari Window are the open self, the hidden self, the blind self, and the unknown self. Next, I will explain each one of them better.

Open Self

The open self, also known as the open area, is the area in the Johari Window Model most likely for effective interpersonal communication and relationships.

The "open self" zone refers to your characteristics and behaviors (good or bad) that you and others are aware of. Therefore, transparency is identified in this relationship, which is open to the exchange of information.

It is a zone where communication is based on trust.

Example: Interpersonal relationship with a best friend.

In this type of relationship, it is common for problems to be shared. There is no block in saying something to the friend and this sharing generates a greater feeling of closeness with the other and facilitates problem-solving as well!

You know that person at work that when you have a problem or difficulty, is the first person you ask for help? Your relationship is in the open zone. This kind of relationship is productive and helpful.

Considering these characteristics, those who have this dominant ego find it easier to give and receive feedback. The development potential is greater in this area!

Hidden Self

The "hidden self" is represented by the area also called closed or secret. This area of ​​the Johari Window Model is related to the issues that we do not say to the other, we keep hidden.

Example: In your work, you are having difficulty in an activity x because you do not have a specific skill. Afraid of what they might think about you, you purposely hide this point of yours to development. By hiding doubt, neither the leader nor his co-workers will be able to help.

There are behaviors of insecurity and fear of the reaction of a group, which makes the person of this dominant ego remain closed. This attitude of lack of trust in the group you are in can become a threat to effective communication and close relationships within a team.

The person with these characteristics, considering the effort to maintain an image that he considers "ideal", does not give feedback, because he does not want to show that the behaviors of others affect him. On the other hand, it receives feedback, but it takes time to change behaviors.

Blind Self

The "blind self" represented by the covered area consists of the individual's behavior zone that they do not perceive (blind), only the others.

Do you know when someone tells you that when you talk you have a habit of doing X behavior and you say you never noticed or that you don't do it?

Not accepting the perception of the other as truth (by not really noticing this highlighted point) can be considered contempt for the person who gave information about you.

So that person may stop providing "touches" to you... and that's when you lose your chance to develop. Don't hesitate.

The person in the blind zone of the Johari window, due to difficulty in perceiving points about himself, has difficulty receiving (and accepting) feedback. However, it is easy to give feedback (about points for improvement). They look at others but don't look at themselves.

Unknown

The "unknown self", referring to the so-called unconscious area of ​​the Johari Window Model, is related to blind spots that neither you nor others are aware of.

In general, such points refer to your potential that you never knew existed (because you didn't have any propitious situation to need to use it).

From this, one way out would be to put self-exposure. Explore possibilities and let your skills come to the fore! This makes it easier for you to access insights you didn't have and also allows you to receive feedback.

In general, people with unknown potential are those who do not expose themselves much, and are closed off. This mode of functioning portrays a difficulty for others to communicate with her.

People in the unknown zone have difficulties in giving and receiving feedback, as they are unaware of points about themselves and about the other. So, there is no clear direction of potential and points to improve.

How do You Use the Johari Window for Self-Awareness?

The Johari Window, based on its structure and mode of operation, can help in inter-group development and interpersonal development.

It allows for greater knowledge about you from personal information you already have about yourself and the knowledge about you from others.

From reading the definitions of the four self, we suggest you draw your Johari Window, drawing the size of each area according to the ones you identified the most.

After viewing your graphical representation of Johari's Window, what can you learn? Could you identify which window pane you are in the Johari Window Model?

Are you more "open ego"?

Take advantage of your dominance in this area and enjoy the benefits of your productive relationships in the work environment (nothing better than working in an environment with friends).

How about taking advantage of this openness to exchange information and this good quality in the relationship to develop personally and professionally even more? Also don't forget to give feedback to each other and help your friend grow, ok?

It will be beneficial for you to develop and it will be rewarding to see the growth of others with your help, isn't it? Enjoy that this opening helps even those feedbacks that are not so nice to be given, but necessary. Your relationship provides this and he will thank you later.

Are you more of a “hidden ego"?

Do you often have doubts at work just for you? Have you noticed how much time you've wasted "for nothing"? A request for help could solve your problem in less time and still help you with the knowledge you didn't have.

Don't miss opportunities to learn something or get close to someone. How many times asking someone a question wasn't the first step toward a friendship?

It's much better to work in a place that has people who help you solve problems and have a pleasant relationship! Are you going to tell me you didn't want to be invited to a Friday happy hour?

Are you more of an "ego blind"?

How about starting today, pay attention to those points that your friends warned you about?

"You have the habit of talking all the time." How about recording a speech of yours to see if you really don't have a language addiction?

"You're so good at writing." How about writing a text and giving it to someone else (other than the one who praised you) to read and see if they don't praise you too?

Don't miss the chance to identify your potential and points for improvement and develop yourself!

Are you more of an "unknown me"?

Think now of behaviors you never thought of doing to see if you had the ability Think of anyone: playing the guitar, dancing, singing...

What good would it do for your life to test one of these skills and it works? Would you make more friends? Would I get more compliments? Would it increase your self-esteem?

Exposing yourself can be an opportunity to relate and, consequently, facilitate communication.

7 Tips to Improve Interpersonal Relationships at Work

Here are 7 great tips to improve interpersonal relationships at work!

1. Adopt a positive attitude

Adopting a positive attitude encourages people around you to use their full potential at work. In fact, this is the behavior of the best leaders.

However, it is important not to confuse a positive attitude with exacerbated optimism. A positive attitude is, above all, facing situations realistically and finding viable solutions, always listening to opinions and evaluating the most relevant ones.

2. Set limits

Although interpersonal relationships are fundamental in the work environment, it is necessary to maintain a professional attitude, build trust and never lose focus on productivity.

While it is difficult to separate personal and professional life, it is essential to maintain space for individuality. This does not imply being rude or avoiding contact with other people, but being aware of the right moments to interact.

3. Pay attention to criticism and feedback

An important tip is to pay attention to other points of view. Be mindful of how people rate your professional attitude and opinions.

However, use this aspect to better understand how you are seen, because with this you are able to seek self-knowledge and personal development.

4. Always act with respect

Any environment has different people who may have different thoughts and divergence of values. In the work environment, especially, there are situations that require patience and a polite attitude.

Friendliness even favors you to be charismatic, contributing a lot to your being listened to carefully and reinforcing leadership characteristics.

5. Be willing and proactive

Goodwill demonstrates that you are committed to offering your best. This, in a way, also encourages your colleagues to act in the same way.

So when asked to do a favor or perform a task, show enthusiasm. A posture that demonstrates unwillingness or forced obligation does not help with work productivity.

6. Know how to criticize

Empathy is an important trait in interpersonal relationships, so treating others the way you want to be treated is essential. In this case, criticizing negatively and positively, and pointing out mistakes, in a kind and friendly way, to offer feedback, is an excellent alternative.

With this, it is possible to provide growth and constructive criticism in a polite way and, on top of that, maintain a professional and stimulating attitude.

7. Recognize your mistakes

Nobody is perfect, we are all liable to make mistakes. But worse than making mistakes is not recognizing them.

From the moment you admit your flaws and show commitment to correcting them, you present an honest, human image and demonstrate that you are always willing to learn and increase self-awareness.

Inter-group relationships are the basis for living in society. It is great knowing how to facilitate and harmonize good relationships between people, whether in your personal life with family and friends or in the professional environment.

Being a Great Communicator is a Leadership Skill?

Yes, improving communication is a leadership skill, although to become a successful leader you need to master many other soft skills.

Want to know how to jumpstart your career and become a true leader?

Discover the Leadership Development Program for FREE, which prepares you to be a complete leader through personal development, communication techniques, feedback practices and coaching concepts to help you achieve high performance.

Do you know the importance of self-knowledge in shaping a true leader? Knowing your options and weaknesses is fundamental for you to be ahead of a team and be prepared for the most adverse situations.