Creativity and the Johari Window

Creativity and the Johari Window.

Have you ever stared at a blank page, not known where to start or struggled to find that creative idea? ?The Johari window can help.

I’ve always been intrigued by this model, but never really understood it.

It sounds mystical and has elements of hidden knowledge.?I’ve also been a bit befuddled by the language around the Johari Window, such as The Unknown Self. To be honest, I didn’t really get it

I’m sure you might be the same.

What has recently changed is that I now know it plays a key part in Creativity and creative thinking. More importantly, knowing and understanding it will directly help your creative thinking.

Give me 3 minutes of your time.

The Johari window is about improving your self-awareness and understanding your strengths (and weaknesses) this improves your creativity.

There are four windows.

1.???????OPEN SELF. What is known by you and is also known by others - open area, open self, free area, free self, or 'the arena'

2.???????BLIND SELF. What is unknown by you but is known by others – your blind area, blind self, or 'blindspot'

3.???????HIDDEN SELF. What you know about yourself that others do not know - hidden area, hidden self, avoided area, avoided self or 'facade'

4.???????UNKNOWN SELF. What is unknown by you and is also unknown by others - unknown area or unknown self.

Using the Johari Window will enable you to have enlightening conversations.

When you know your strengths and weaknesses you can focus your creative energy where you can really shine.

Working on the Johari window with others will increase your empathy and understanding of others’ perspectives. It will help make you more relatable.

A by-product of better understanding is improved communication and easier collaboration which will help creative teamwork through increased trust.

A better understanding of your blind spots and those of others will help understand where you may get stuck in your thinking.?Overcoming these will help with problem solving and ideation.

Tips on using the Johari window.

1 – Reflection. Ask yourself where you like spending time and excel likewise where you dislike or struggle.?This will quickly link to your thinking preferences, strengths and weaknesses.

2 – Feedback. Ask your friends, family and colleagues about your strengths and weaknesses. This can be challenging.

Remember this is a listening excise, less speaking by you the better – you know what you know. What do they think you're good at? Where do they see room for improvement?

3 – Openness. Using the Johari window is all about getting new perspectives on yourself and others.

Open thinking leads to fresh ideas. These ideas remove the rocks and smooth the ruts on your thinking road.

4 – Shared conversation. Using the Johari Window will facilitate a different type of conversation with others. It is easier to have these kinds of conversations if they are bounded in a (window) frame. Back and forth, give and take will help maintain flow. It should not feel like an inquisition.

Where the Johari Window has true relevance to the real world is that the size of our relative windows are changing all the time.?

As things develop our personal windows of ‘known’ gets smaller.?

Just think of AI and software is constantly developing all the time.?Have you ever used GroupMap or TeamRetro? If not, they are unknowns.

What you do now is your choice. Do you find out about them or let it pass and slip back into unknown. Let FOMO be your learning friend!!

CTA: You not only choose the window you look through (playschool) but also the size of the window and the view. Get looking and start seeing.

TL;DR.

Look at the Johari window and see beyond the language.

Use it to reflect.

Use it to start different conversations.

Use it to improve your thinking and understand.