Do you have a blind spot? - Part 2
Do you have a blind spot? – Part 2
A blind spot is a lack of awareness of how certain aspects of our own behaviour can inadvertently negatively impact upon others. For example, we may think we are to-the-point, others may think we are blunt or worse, rude. If someone thinks you are rude, they are less likely to want to listen to you or spend time with you. A person who considers themselves to be to-the-point may never realise why certain people avoid them or enter into conflict with them. The aforementioned situation does not tend to lead to positive outcomes, especially in the work place.
How can blind spots be identified? A very helpful theory relating to blind spots is the Johari Window Model. This theory was developed in 1955 by two American psychologists, Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham. The name of the model is derived from the names of the inventors, Joseph and Harry.
Fig. 1
The model can be illustrated with an info-graphic, see Fig 1 above.
The open self quadrant represents information about yourself that you and others know.
The hidden self quadrant represents information you know about yourself that others don’t as you have yet to reveal it to them.
The unknown self quadrant represents information about yourself that you nor others know.
The blind self quadrant, represents information you don’t know about yourself but others know about you.
The information used to populate the four quadrants can be identified in a couple of ways.
One way is to complete a questionnaire containing 20 questions and plot the result on a Johari Window graph. Another way is to select words from a list of 55 options that identify human traits, words such as: diplomatic, aggressive, introverted, trustworthy. The individual being assessed selects twelve words and other people who know the individual select 8 words. After the words have been selected a process is engaged to allocate the words to the appropriate quadrants, open self, hidden self, unknown self, blind self. The quadrant to focus upon is the blind self quadrant as this gives the individual who is assessed great insight into how others see them and will highlight reasons for others’ behaviour towards them.
Utilising this model can give an individual useful insights, especially if the blind spot quadrant identifies diametrical opposites to their own perception of themselves. If a person sees themselves as friendly and approachable and others see them as aloof and domineering, then an assessment of past interactions might shed further light on whose interpretation most accurately represents reality!
