What is it?

This workshop helps your team enhance their self-awareness, communication skills, and trust within a group.

Why is it useful?

As individuals become more open, the Open Area expands, reducing the Blind and Hidden Areas, leading to better understanding and stronger relationships.

The Johari Window was created by psychologists Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham in 1955 as a technique for understanding self-awareness and interpersonal communication.

Objective

To enhance self-awareness, improve communication, and build trust within the team by encouraging participants to engage in self-disclosure and provide constructive feedback, ultimately fostering a more open, empathetic, and collaborative team environment.

Resources Required

• Time: 2 hours
• Number of People: About 4-20
• PowerPoint slides or a whiteboard for the presentation
• Supporting slides (included in these slides)
• Johari Window Adjectives (separate download)
• Action Plan Template (separate download)
• Flip charts for recording discussions
• Marker pens

Process

Step 1: Introduction and Explanation of the Johari Window (30 minutes)

Objective: Familiarise participants with the Johari Window model and its relevance to self-awareness and communication.

1. Begin by introducing the four quadrants of the Johari Window (Open, Blind, Hidden, and Unknown) using a visual aid (e.g., whiteboard or slides).
2. Discuss the importance of each quadrant and how it relates to personal growth and relationships.
3. Highlight how expanding the "Open Area" can improve trust, communication, and team collaboration.

Activity: Group Discussion

1. Ask participants to reflect on how the Johari Window applies to their lives and interactions.
2. Encourage them to share their thoughts on the potential benefits of self-disclosure and receiving feedback.

Step 2: Self-Disclosure and Feedback Exercise (45 minutes)

Objective: Encourage participants to expand their "Open Area" by practising self-disclosure and giving/receiving feedback in a supportive environment.

Activity: Paired Sharing

1. Pair participants with adjectives commonly used in Johari Window exercises (e.g., friendly, empathetic, confident, patient, etc.).
2. Each participant will select five adjectives that describe themselves (their self-perception).
3. Next, their partner will select five adjectives they believe describe their partner.
4. Afterwards, participants will compare and discuss their selected adjectives, focusing on:
   • What adjectives were common between self-perception and feedback from others (Open Area)?
   • What adjectives were in the "Blind Spot" (unknown to self but known to others)?
5. Encourage pairs to reflect on any surprises or insights from the feedback. Make notes in preparation for the discussion.

Debrief:

1. After the paired discussions, bring the group together to share general reflections and what they learned.
2. Discuss how expanding the "Open Area" through self-disclosure and feedback strengthens relationships.

Step 3: Group Reflection and Action Plan (30 minutes)

Objective: Encourage participants to apply insights gained during the workshop to their personal and professional lives.

Activity: Group Reflection

1. Lead a discussion on the importance of continued self-awareness, openness, and feedback in communication and relationships.
2. Ask participants to reflect on:
   • What they learned about themselves during the workshop.
   • How can they reduce their "Hidden" or "Blind" areas in their day-to-day life or workplace?

Action Plan:

1. Have participants create an action plan for expanding their "Open Area" beyond the workshop.
2. They can set goals for:
   • Seeking more feedback from colleagues or friends.
   • Sharing more of themselves in appropriate contexts.
   • Engaging in activities that help uncover their "Unknown Area" (e.g., new challenges, self-reflection, etc.).

Closing (10 minutes)

1. Summarise the key takeaways of the Johari Window model.
2. Encourage participants to remember the insights from the workshop when interacting with others in their personal and professional environments.