09/23/2026
What do you know about yourself as a leader? More importantly, what do other people know about you that you don’t?
The Johari Window helps us think about self-awareness through four areas. There is the Open Area, the things you know about yourself and others see too. The Hidden Area includes what you know but don’t share with others. The Blind Spot is what others recognize in you that you may not see yourself. Finally, the Unknown Area includes qualities, reactions, or potential that neither you nor others have discovered yet.
For leaders, that blind spot can be particularly important. You may think you’re being decisive while your team experiences you as dismissive. You may believe you’re encouraging debate while others are afraid to challenge you. You may think you’re helping by jumping in with solutions when your team actually needs you to listen.
The goal of the Johari Window isn’t to eliminate every blind spot. It’s to make your Open Area larger through feedback, communication, and greater self-awareness. The more we understand how our behavior is experienced by others, the better equipped we are to communicate, manage conflict, build trust, and lead effectively.
One of the best leadership development exercises may also be one of the simplest: ask someone you trust, “What do you see in my leadership that I may not see in myself?”
Then resist the temptation to explain or defend.
Just listen.