Johari Window
Using the Johari Window is a great way to facilitate and structure feedback, particularly when you are seeking a comprehensive understanding of yourself. It’s a tool designed to help increase self-awareness and improve communication through the exchange of feedback. Here’s how you can use it to gather feedback:
1. Understand the Johari Window Model
The Johari Window has four quadrants:
Open Area (Arena): What you and others know about you.
Blind Spot: What others know about you, but you are unaware of.
Hidden Area: What you know about yourself but choose to keep hidden from others.
Unknown Area: What neither you nor others know about you.
2. Use the Johari Window for Feedback:
Step 1: Increase the Open Area (Arena)
What to do: Invite feedback from your colleagues, peers, or team members on your strengths, behavior, and how you interact with them.
How: You can ask them to give you feedback on specific aspects (e.g., leadership, communication, collaboration), or you could use a survey where they anonymously provide feedback.
Goal: The more feedback you gather, the more you can open up the ârena and increase mutual understanding and transparency.
Step 2: Reduce the Blind Spot
What to do: Identify things others know about you but you don’t. This is often the most revealing part of feedback.
How: Ask others for constructive feedback on areas where you may have blind spots. You could ask them about specific areas like how well you handle conflict or whether you listen actively.
Goal: Work on becoming aware of these blind spots, which could involve changes in behaviour or mindset.
Step 3: Reduce the Hidden Area
What to do: Share more of your thoughts, motivations, and feelings that you may have kept hidden from others.
How: Be more open and vulnerable with your colleagues. Share challenges you are facing or your goals for personal growth.
Goal: By sharing more, you can build stronger, more trusting relationships and allow others to understand you better. This will also encourage others to share their honest feedback with you.
Step 4: Explore the Unknown Area
What to do: Seek feedback on things you are not even aware of. This area can reveal things that are deeply hidden or subconscious like talents, blind spots, or behaviours you may have never noticed before.
How: Use tools like self-assessment, personality tests, or even team-building activities to uncover hidden aspects of your character.
Goal: Encourage feedback that helps you discover something about yourself that could be valuable in your leadership or career.
3. How to Collect Feedback Using Johari Window:
Workshops/Group Feedback: Host a feedback session where team members and colleagues contribute to your Johari Window. Have them identify strengths and areas for development.
Anonymous Surveys: Use surveys where people rate or comment on your behaviour. This can help reduce the barrier of fear in giving honest feedback.
One-on-One Conversations: Ask direct questions during feedback conversations, such as: What do you think I could do differently? or Is there something I’m missing in how I approach this project?
4. Key Benefits of Using the Johari Window for Feedback:
Enhanced self-awareness: You become more attuned to how you are perceived and the ways you can improve.
Better communication: It improves transparency and helps you open up, creating a more authentic exchange with others.
Stronger relationships: As you open up your Hidden Area and address Blind Spots, relationships with others become more trusting and collaborative.
5. Final Thoughts:
The Johari Window is a powerful feedback tool for continuous personal growth. It not only helps you gain insights into yourself but also fosters a culture of openness and constructive feedback in teams. By using it actively, you will enhance your leadership skills, improve relationships, and increase overall self-awareness.