SELF DEVELOPMENT -- PART III-- JOHARI WINDOW
Joseph Luft and Harry Ingam were the two social scientists who created 'Johari Window. I actively practiced this to grow myself as an individual. There are four windows in the system.
THIS BLOG TO BE READ AFTER READING PART I AND PART II OF JOHARI WINDOW
____________________________________________________________________________________
Dealing the block C is a challenge to the majority and also
it involves moving from introvert to extrovert personality in many cases. Most
often the hesitation stems from how it would be viewed by others and the shy
and timid always worry of criticism, ridicule or derision by others. What they
do not realize is that weakness is with everyone and some dare to exhibit and
others hide. The Prime Minister never hesitates to state that he sold tea in
trains as a child whereas many would like to project their family as people
born with silver spoon or highly educated and sophisticated.
When a person is keen to keep his block A bright he tends to
hide block C and resist talking block B. The tendency to keep block A brighter
than real is more with youth who by the force of their age era tend to achieve
more by words, what they actually intend
to achieve by deeds. They are in the
threshold of take off in their personal and professional life and are in need
of knowledge, money, fame and identity and hence fill up the gaps between real
and aspiring. Son of a retired sub-judge in a District Court had told everyone
that his father is Judge in High Court. People make similar taller claims on
financial, educational and social status and tend to do everything to maintain
that projected status till the facade falls as it loses battle against reality.
This tendency exists more with youth since they have nothing much to project as
something 'respectful'. But as they gradually participate more in inter-intra
college level events, achieve success that fetches personal recognition or join
some company and start earning money the need for their projecting more also
reduces.
As personal esteem grow, the individual starts confiding
with close ally some of the darker side of his life. 'Yes I cannot afford the
picnic as I have an aged ailing grandma to be taken care' is a comment drew
sympathy instantly against insinuations of miserliness. But there are other
weaknesses, be it physical, social, financial or educational that would invite
ridicule and laughter of which youngsters who strive for recognition are afraid
of.
The society is heavily divided into caste and creed as also city and rural and with lot of inequalities in the system. When the rural person needs to mingle with the city bred there are things to hide due to social stigma as the youngsters of city in most cases have not been exposed to varied kinds of language, religious customs and practices, dressing sense etc. As the exposure and interactions increase there will be better appreciation of mutual position. But till then the dilemma of how much to hide continues strongly influencing the personality that they project.
The society is heavily divided into caste and creed as also city and rural and with lot of inequalities in the system. When the rural person needs to mingle with the city bred there are things to hide due to social stigma as the youngsters of city in most cases have not been exposed to varied kinds of language, religious customs and practices, dressing sense etc. As the exposure and interactions increase there will be better appreciation of mutual position. But till then the dilemma of how much to hide continues strongly influencing the personality that they project.
Yet the block B consists of two parts with one side getting
accepted easily. People in their good sense do admit their limitation though
not all of them. Some limitations like anger, greed, laziness etc which are
common among many are admitted easily while others based on physique,
financial, social, family related and are hurtful, hence evaded. The process of
revealing block C and learning of block B is very stressful to anyone more so
to youngsters. It is necessary to display empathetic listening and
understanding as one reveals block C and moral support as one accepts block B.
Change in status, age, maturity, unexpected blows and
windfalls in life alter the thinking and attitude of individuals. It is a
gradual process in both directions of good and bad. Of late he is more afraid
or of late he is more arrogant are words that emanate due to such changes. Yet
the individual may be aware of it or wary of discussing it. In either case the
practice of revisiting Johari Window is suggested as it keeps an individual updated
on his perceived personality.
The above blocks display almost an ideal set up where a
person reveals maximum of his block C and understands maximum of his block B.
The huge block A and very small blocks of B and C suggest that at any point of
time people do not accept all perceived traits nor reveal all weaknesses yet by
appreciation and practice of the window game enjoy benefits of higher
transparent and open behavioral pattern. The block D is a mystery to most
common people and we will discuss later this mysterious block.
**********************************************************************
Comments