Johari Window
Creating Better Understanding
Between Individuals and Groups
The Johari Window is a communication
model that can be used to improve
understanding between individuals
within a team or in a group setting.
Johari Window can also be used to
improve a group's relationship with
other groups
Explaining the Johari Window
Quadrant 1: Open Area
What is known by the person about
him/herself and is also known by others.
When you first meet a new person, the size
of the opening of this first quadrant is not
very large, since there has been little time to
exchange information. As the process of
getting to know one another continues, the
window shades move down or to the right,
placing more information into the open
window
Quadrant 2: Blind Area
What is unknown by the person about
him/herself but which others know . for
example, Two person eating at a restaurant,
and one may have unknowingly gotten some
food on his face. This information is in the
blind quadrant of that person but other
person can see it. If the second person now
tell the first that you have something on your
face, then the window shade moves to the
right, enlarging the open quadrant's area.
Quadrant 3: Hidden Area
What the person knows about
Him/herself that others do not . As soon
as the Person disclose the personal
information then he will effectively
pulling the window shade down, moving
the information from hidden quadrant
and enlarging the open quadrant's area.
This process is called: "Self-disclosure."
Quadrant 4: Unknown Area
What is unknown by the person about
him/herself and is also unknown by
others. The unknown area can be
reduced in different ways: by others'
Observation (which increases the blind
area); by self-discovery (which
increases the hidden area), or by mutual
enlightenment - via group experiences
and discussion -which increases the
open areas the unknown area reduces
Self-disclosure
The process of enlarging the open
quadrant vertically is called self-
disclosure. As information is
shared, the boundary of open
quadrant moves downwards to the
hidden quadrant. And from
this,trust tends to build between
them.
Tip 1:
Don’t be rash in your self-
disclosure. Disclosing harmless
items builds trust. However,
disclosing information which could
damage people’s respect for you
can put you in a position of
weakness.
Feedback
The process of enlarging the open
quadrant horizontally is one of
feedback. Here the individual
learns things about him- or her-
self that others can see, but he or
she can’t.
Tip 2:
Be careful in the way you give
feedback. Some cultures have a
very open and accepting approach
to feedback . Be sensitive, and
start gradually
Basic aim of Johari Window
In Groups the Open Area is the ‘space’
where good communications and
cooperation occur, free from confusion,
conflict and misunderstanding.
Self-disclosure is the process by which
people expand the Open Area vertically.
Feedback is the process by which
people expand this area horizontally.
By encouraging healthy self-disclosure
and sensitive feedback, you can build a
stronger and more effective team.
Remember, the blind quadrant
contains behavior, feelings and
motivations not accessible to the
person, but which others can see
Strengths: Weaknesses:
What do you do well? What could you improve?
What unique resources Where do you have fewer
can you draw on? resources than others?
What do others see as What are others likely to
your strengths? see as weaknesses?
Opportunities: Threats:
What good opportunities What trends could harm
are open to you? you?
What trends could you What threats do your
take advantage of? weaknesses expose you
How can you turn your to?
strengths into
opportunities?
