Johari Window, Article Review Example

I conducted this exercise with someone whom I had only briefly known, a colleague in my workplace. The Johari Window actually turned out to be an eye-opener in both cases: in hers and in mine. I would rate myself with number 9, and she rated herself likewise. Similarly, in both cases, the vertical line in our ‘open area’ in relation to that individual, and the ‘hidden’ area simultaneously decreased.

1. is married to an apparently successful doctor, has seemingly come from an affluential family, and seems never to have suffered in any significant manner in her life. I, on the other hand, have experienced a difficult childhood in countless ways, economic deprivation being just one of the factors. Although practically not a believing Marxist, Marxism had always resounded in me with its seemingly accurate observations about the chasm – to me unjustified chasm – between rich and poor. Hence, it was doing this exercise of the Johari Window with her that I mentioned that she struck me as someone who could not understand my childhood deprivations and my ongoing appreciation of monetary value being that she had seemingly suffered so little, if at all, in her life. She (let us call her R.) was astounded with my observation, saying that she had no idea that people perceived her as such. Being a doctor’s wife had not been easy for her. She had to struggle for many years whilst her husband was raising himself to success. Although never having had it as difficult as I, appearances belied the reality as she saw it.

In a similar situation, I perceived her as representing a perfect image of an extroverted, sophisticated person who found it easy to make friends. Encountering her initially, I had actually been intimidated by her egregiously gregarious personality reminiscent to me – I told her – of Barbara Bush. Well, Barbara Bush was no icon to her, and she, actually, experienced herself, she admitted to me, to be quite shy.

Her impressions of me, too, were astounding. Considering myself a hard worker, I was perplexed when she revealed to me that she saw me as unfocused. Closer observation, however, told me that she might have some truth to her conclusions. The Johari Window, in short, taught me quite a bit.

References

Duen Hsi Yen. (1999). Johari Window. Retrieved Nov 10, 2010, from http://www.noogenesis.com/game_theory/johari/johari_window.html

Nelson-Jones, R.  (1983). Practical Counseling Skills.  London: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston.