Johari window
What it is for
Use it before asking for or giving feedback. It separates what is already on the table from what only one side sees, and makes plain that a useful conversation moves things from the blind and hidden panes into the open one. It works best filled in by two people and compared.
What you type stays in this browser and is never sent anywhere.
The window is not a snapshot that stays: the point of feedback is to widen the open pane. Asking others widens it rightwards and shrinks the blind pane; telling widens it downwards and shrinks the hidden one. The unknown pane is only uncovered by new situations, not by talking about it.
Frequently asked questions
How to use this model
Where does the name come from?
From Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham, the two psychologists who proposed it in 1955: "Joe" plus "Harry" makes Johari. It is not an acronym and not a foreign word, though it is often written as if it were.
Can I fill in the blind pane by myself?
Only as a guess, and it helps to say so. What you write there alone is what you suspect others see, not what they actually see: the gap between the two is often the most interesting thing the exercise produces.
Is it fine to use in a performance review?
Yes, on one condition: the hidden pane stays optional. Asking someone to reveal what they keep to themselves in front of the person who decides their pay is not a trust exercise, it is a request with a power gap inside it. The blind pane, by contrast, is exactly the material of a good review.
Where does the name Johari come from?
From the names of Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham, the two psychologists who put the scheme forward in 1955: "Joe" plus "Harry" makes Johari. It is not an acronym and comes from no foreign language.
What is it good for in everyday work?
For preparing a feedback conversation. It separates what is already on the table from what only one side can see, and shows that a useful exchange moves material out of the blind and hidden panes into the open one.
Can I fill in the blind pane on my own?
Only as a guess, and it is worth saying so. What you write there alone is what you suspect others see in you, not what they actually see: the gap between the two is often the most useful result of the exercise.