In a few weeks I will be giving a presentation about The Johari Window. As I continue my research on the subject, I am reminded about how it is not only useful in your day to day business interactions with your clients, staff or team, it is also helpful as you prepare for a job search.
I’ve always been interested in human behavior and inserted various tools such as Myers Briggs or DiSC into my training programs. They provided a new way of looking at things and were thought provoking take on something. That’s why I find the Johari Window noteworthy.
The Johari Window was developed in the 1950s by Joseph Ingham and Harry Luft (Johari; interesting take on their names) to increase our understanding of the relationships and behaviors we have with ourselves and with others. The Johari Window looks like this.
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I Know Open You Know Information about you that both you and others know. |
I Don’t Know Blind Spot You Know Information about you that you don’t know but others know. |
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I know Hidden You Don’t Know Information about you that you know but others don’t know. |
I Don’t Know Unknown You Don’t Know Information about you that neither you nor others know. |
Open- This is the information that both of you know about you. It can be basic, such as your name, job title, location but you can also share feelings, motives and behaviors with others. Some examples may include your kindness, your negotiating skills, your ability to write interesting narrative. Some other examples include characteristics that you know about yourself as does others such as The more you share with others and the more self-aware you are and the more “open” this particular window is.
Blind – This is behavior that you don’t know about yourself that others do know. For example, perhaps you jingle the change in your pocket or constantly clear your throat when you are nervous. If you communicate with others you may find out this information. You want to be aware of these habits and when that happens, you bring them over to the “Open” area.
Hidden- There are certain bits and pieces of our behaviors and personality that we don’t share with people. It may be because we don’t know someone well enough or are uncomfortable sharing. An example of this can be as simple of not telling someone that you are afraid of enclosed spaces or that you were up all night worrying about an interview response. Once you share that information it again moves to the “Open” area.
Unknown – This area represents the unspecified, undetermined behaviors about yourself that neither you nor someone else may know. You may have just met someone and have not yet shared any information or behaviors. This area reminds me of starting an icebreaker exercise at the beginning of a training program and being paired up with a complete stranger. It’s a clean slate; you can share as much or as little as you care to with this person. Once this happens, the information moves to the “Open” area.
Using the Johari Window for Your Job Search
The Johari Window can also be used in the job search. Let’s look at the quadrants in relationship to an interview. Other than a resume or perhaps a referral or connection, you and the interviewer are in the Unknown territory. Obviously you want to share your skills and experience with the interviewer and expand the Open area.
Open - The more you share the more this window expands. Here is where you share your experiences, strengths, weaknesses, goals and career aspirations. This is where you are aware of your personal interviewing strengths and how to use them.
Blind Spot – Before the interview ask for feedback. Get a friend or hire a coach to practice interviewing with you and then get their candid feedback on what you did well and where you need practice. Did you fidget, did you make direct eye contact, was your handshake firm, were your responses direct and did they highlight your accomplishments? Once you get feedback, work on it.
Hidden - There are some things to keep hidden and then there are others that might want to come out. For example, the fact that when you are nervous you ramble doesn’t need to be shared. You could share that you felt exhilarated when a client bought into your product or service. It’s up to you; share this quadrant when you feel it is important to the interview.
Unknown: The more you share during the interview the more this quadrant shrinks and the Open area grows.
The key to the Johari Window is to enlarge the Open quadrant by sharing information about yourself when appropriate.Other than a few exceptions, the year 2022 totally sucked. It contained deaths, illnesses, surgery, home building delays accompanied by ad nausem excuses, a lost friendship, three rental homes, a hurricane, and a generally crappy attitude. It was wonky and filled with emotions that left us treading water and hoping not to drown. It was surprising in its thoughtlessness.
The exception to the rule was that 2022 also brought us a new daughter in law, a beautiful wedding, and a brand-new family. We were also lucky to be able to visit our family and love on our grandchildren. Our true friends supported us and empathized with the way that things were turning out. Most importantly, they radiated positivity. In September, we both were healthy and strong enough to attend our class reunions and renew old friendships. We learned new things and tried new projects. We have a faithful dog!
Life is funny and every day is a new adventure. With the illnesses that we had in 2022 we found that certain things matter more than others. Faith, family, friends, good conversations, laughter, and loving are the most important parts in life. My parents told me this a long time ago and like so many other things, they were right.
This year is the year that I personally (and finally) realized that life is so very short and that it is passing faster than I ever could have imagined. The saying about the days being long and the years being shorter cannot be truer.
Once we reach a certain age and I guess, maturity level, we find that the hurtful words of people (either close or not) need to slide off our backs. It no longer matters what other people think of us; it’s how we look at ourselves and the fact that we love and accept ourselves, flaws, and all.
So happy birthday to me. May this year be better and I, in turn, be better. May I continue to learn and be grateful for the people and things in my life and may 2023 slow down so that I can savor all the precious moments.
A special note
to my sixth grade teacher, Lois La Pointe Kiely for introducing us to the music
of Joan Baez. May we all stay "forever young."
Love,
Me
When I was a very
little girl, our family lived in Germany. We lived in Heidelberg and
then spent a year or so in Nuremburg. I don’t remember much but I do remember
feelings and smells of the holidays. I remember the Christmas markets and the
delicious food smells, including chestnuts. I remember walking through the
markets with my parents and sister and staying close to them because there were
so many people. I also remember getting a Sears catalog in the mail (maybe my
grandmother sent it to us) and my sister and I folded down the page corners showing
the toys, games, and dolls that we loved.
One of my fondest memories was St. Nick’s Eve. That was the evening that we put our shoes outside (or in the outside hallway of our apartment) before we went to bed with hopes that in the morning, we’d find treats and toys in them from St. Nicholas, the Patron Saint of Children.
Legend has it that St Nicolas was a bishop known for his selflessness and caring. He’d tend to the sick and needy using the money he received from his inheritance or from selling his possessions. One tale says that he tossed bags of gold into open windows to help those down on their luck. The money often landed in the shoes that were drying by the fireplace. Over the years, that led to children putting their shoes out by the fireplace (or the hallway) with hopes that St. Nick would fill them with treats. St. Nicholas Day is December 6th, supposedly the day of his death in 343 AD. St. Nick’s Day is a day of giving, named after a very kind, big-hearted man.
On December 6th my sister and I would look for our shoes and sure enough, they would contain little treats. There was always an orange, some nuts and chocolate, a candy cane, and a little toy. It was a happy way to start the day and begin the excitement that comes with Christmas.
Over the years I tried to recreate St, Nick’s Day with my own family. The kids would put their shoes by the fireplace and in the morning, they would also find an orange, candy cane, chocolate, and a small toy. It was a joyous way to start the day (especially if it was a school day) but also a lovely introduction to the hustle and bustle of Christmas and a remembrance of the greatest gift of all, the baby Jesus Christ.
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