Assessment: The Johari Window

Everyone can continue to develop their skills and abilities throughout their lifetime. The Johari window is a tool that can help us understand how we perceive ourselves and others. This can serve as a good starting point and a self-assessment tool to facilitate critical self-reflection.

The Johari window was created in 1955 by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham. When it was made, the researchers provided participants with fifty-six adjectives to describe themselves. The subjects picked five or six adjectives and then had someone who knew them well pick six for that person. Then, the adjectives were placed in the appropriate place in the grid. The grid consists of four windows. The first window is the open area. In this area, these are things that someone knows about themselves and that others see in them as well. The second window is the blind area. In the blind area, the person is unaware of it about themselves, but others see it in them. The person is aware of this about themselves in the hidden area, but others are unaware. In the unknown area, neither person knows what exists there. Over time, as we change and grow, we may develop more self-awareness, and aspects of ourselves that were once unknown may become clearer.

Higher self-esteem and self-confidence can enhance our projection, enabling us to accept criticism more effectively, learn from our mistakes, and communicate more clearly. This can lead to improved human relations and, ultimately, increased productivity and profitability. In this appendix, students will have the opportunity to complete several self-assessments. These questionnaires are not full-scale clinical tools. Their purpose is not to provide a comprehensive picture or to make a diagnosis. Instead, these are meant to be questions to quick-start your curiosity and self-reflection.