Johari Window — Coaching tool for Self-Awareness

Image created by the author

This exercise can be used in 1:1 coaching and in group coaching. The purpose of this exercise is to increase group self-awareness.

What is the Johari Window?

The Johari Window is a model.

It represents 4 different aspects of an individual’s self-awareness and how they relate to other people.

In the image above, you can see four quadrants. Each represents a different “window” into an individual’s personality:

1. Open Self (Arena):

• Information that is known to both you and others.
• Thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and attributes that are readily shared and understood within a given relationship or group.

2. Blind Self

• Information that is known to others but not to you.
• The blind spots in your self-awareness that often require feedback from others to become aware of them.

3. Hidden Self (Facade)

• Information that is known to the individual but not to others.
• Aspects of oneself that are deliberately kept private (possible reasons: fear, shame, trauma, protecting professional image, cultural or religious…