I love the Johari window. It sounds mystical and I think it can work at quite an existential level, but actually the model was developed in the 1950s by two American psychologists Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham and named it ‘Johari’ after combining parts of their first names (Joe and Harry). It’s a really useful tool to help map out and develop self-awareness, and mutual understanding between individuals and their ‘group’.

Sometimes referred to as a ‘disclosure/feedback model of self awareness’, or as an ‘information processing tool’. It’s a great way to help articulate and locate feelings, experience, views, attitudes, skills, intentions etc. and see them in relation to, other perspectives and contexts. It can be viewed as four panes that make up one window (holistic), as well as four distinct but connected window panes (contextual). What is Shared / Hidden / Blind / Unknown, and who knows what about each one. I find it a model that can be continually insightful for those both new and experienced to the model. It has a lot of flexibility, depth, and can be applied to professional and personal situations and contexts. It’s deep and serious as well as being quite playful and fun to do. A perfect combination

For more information, especially its use as a tool for developing insights within professional group dynamics, go to businessballs — (this is a great website for useful resources, despite having a questionable domain name IMHO).