Johari Window
(Luft Ingham)

Understanding giving and receiving of information. Explanation of the Johari Window of Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham. ('50)

Contributed by: Guy Bloom

Luft Ingham Johari Window

What is the Johari Window? Description

The Johari Window method (JW) from Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham (hence: Joseph & Harry = Johari) helps us understand how we are giving and receiving information. The JW can help to illustrate and improve the self-awareness between individuals and teams. It can also be used to change group dynamics within a business context.

The Johari Window model is sometimes called: a 'disclosure/feedback model of self awareness', and: an 'information processing tool'. It actually represents information: feelings, experience, views, attitudes, skills, intentions, motivation, etc within or about a person in relation to their group, from four perspectives:

Arena. What is known by the person about him/herself and is also known by others. Examples: your name, the color of your hair, the fact you own a dog. One can and should increase the size of this region by increasing Exposure and Feedback Solicitation. (Diagram 2)
Blind Spot. What is unknown by the person about him/herself but what others know. Examples: your own manners, the feelings of other persons about you.
Façade. What the person knows about him/herself that others do not know. Such as: your secrets, your hopes, desires, what you like and what you dislike.
The Unknown. What is unknown by the person about him/herself and is also unknown by others. This information has an unknown potential to influence the rest of the JW.

In the beginning of a communication process, when you meet someone, the size of the Arena quadrant is not very large, since there has been little time and opportunity to exchange information. The general rule of thumb is that you should try to expand the Arena to become the dominant window, thus demonstrating transparency, openness and honesty in interactions (Diagram 2). Probably when you do this, the other party will also open himself up.

Johari Window 2 The writing about this topic often refers to the singular ("self"). But by changing the word "self" into "team", the model also allows a team dynamic approach.

Origin of the Johari Window. History

The JW model was developed by American psychologists Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in the 1950s, while they were researching group dynamics. Today the JW model is especially relevant because of the modern emphasis on soft skills, behavior, empathy, cooperation, inter-group development and interpersonal development. Interestingly, Luft and Ingham called their Johari Window model 'Johari' after combining their first names, Joseph and Harrington. In early publications the word actually appears as 'JoHari'. The JW became a widely used model to understand and train self-awareness, for personal development, to improve communications, interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, team development and inter-group relationships.

Usage of the Johari Window. Applications

The JW is generally used for teaching and considering and administering an understanding of:

How individuals communicate with themselves and with others.
How individuals present themselves to themselves and to others.
How individuals perceive their place in the world.

With a little consideration Johari is also suitable for multiple usage:

Coaching to facilitate conversations around 'actions vs. perceived motivations'.
As an Organizational Development tool to visualize the political and cultural issues that may be in or out of sync within a business.
As a management tool to demonstrate the dynamics in a team.
As a self-development tool that helps to consider one's own 'behavior vs. reaction'.

Steps in the Johari Window. Process

There exist questionnaires that will define the place of the individual and or team in relation to one another.

Strengths of the Johari Window. Benefits

Easy to grasp, flexible outcomes.
The method catalyses open information sharing.
The method will create a shared reference point.

Limitations of the Johari Window. Disadvantages

Some things are perhaps better not communicated (your sexual behavior, mental health problems or large-scale failures).
Some people may pass on the information they received further than you desire.
Some people may react negatively.
Using the JW is a useless exercise if it is not linked to activities that reinforce positive behavior, or that correct negative behaviors.

Assumptions of the Johari Window. Conditions

In reality Johari's assumption is the same as any feedback-tool: the individuals which are experiencing the process must proceed further to create Development Plans, etc.

Johari Window Forum (14)

Try to Increase the Arena Area
"The Johari Window provides an excellent insight into the communication process and decreases a lot of misunderstanding. One should always try to enhance the Arena area."

Johari Window in 360 Degree Feedback
"The model can serve as a useful tool for the 360-degree appraisal system particularly in situations where the focus is on soft skills as against hard facts about performance figures. It can be ideal for a service industry or an NGO where communication and persuasion is required."

Johari Window in Case of Reserved Other Person
"Johari window does not make sense to me. If someone is reserved how do you tap him/her to communicate? Or reach their blind spot? So that there can be feed back..."

Johari Window and Mass Media
"How can the Johari window concept enhance mass media communication?"

Communication Circumstances Requiring NO Feedback
"While communicating, the receiver of the message is normally required to give feedback. But there are certain circumstances in which feedback is not required. under what circumstances is feedback NOT necessary?"

JOHARI window and Career Development
"Is the JW a suitable tool for a career development?"

Using This Technique to Set Contacts with Major Companies
"I'd like to know more about using such techniques to establish contacts with the managers of large companies."

Fear of Eye Communication
"How can I overcome the fear of eye communication
I am person of calm going, but when I am communicating with some persons, I am unable to see them directly to their eyes, which is important in good communication.
But though I know this I'm getting anxious. How can I overcome it?"

The 4th Johari Window (Mystery) is never Realized
"As a qualified NLP,TFT, EFT and NES therapist, I would like to be able to incorporate my therapies to empower people to de-mysticise the 4th quadrant in the Johari window.
From my own experience, it is never realized because people are programmed from an early age by "betters and elders" about all the things they can't do. I am sure this is an old observation for you but I am keen to somehow bring all this to the public arena. I would appreciate any input."

Use of Johari Windows in Office as HR Manager.?
"Hi, could somebody tell the answer of this question, its all about Johari windows:
How I can use Johari Windows in my office as HR manager?"

Johari Window Set of Questions
"Hi, could somebody share the set of questions used in Johari window and how is the interpretation done?"

Factors that Complicate Communication
"I really appreciate for this hard task of preparing this text I believe ,it will help all learners of the field of communication."

Type of Information per Quadrant?
"What kind of information do you look for in each quadrant?"

References Luft and Ingham
"Luft J and Ingham H, "The Johari Window: a graphic model for interpersonal relations', Univ. Calif. Western Training Lab. 1955----- Luft J, 1961, "The Johari Window", Human Relations Training News, 5.1, pp6-7. ----- Luft, Joseph (1969). "Of Human Interaction," Palo Alto, CA: National Press."

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