Sync

Johari's window - easy read

This article is about how we communicate with other people.

Sometimes we give people information about us - what we like, what we are good at, how we are feeling.

Sometimes they can tell things about us even when we say nothing at all. Sometimes they can tell things about us that we don't even know ourselves!

Has anyone ever said to you "you look confused" or "you look happy" before you even knew you were confused or happy? We give lots of signals to people all the time, even when we don't mean to.

The window

Johari’s Window is a picture that helps us think about what we know and what other people know about us. Its only called Johari's window because the people who named it were called Joseph and Harry!

There are four parts to the window

• things we choose to share with others

• things people can tell about us that we don't know about

• things that nobody knows about us - even ourselves

• things we choose not to share with others

Joseph and Harry weren't saying you should tell everyone everything about yourself the minute you meet them.

They were saying you should think about what you tell them, and maybe ask them what they can tell about you from how you act.

Use the window

Its okay to tell people you are nervous. That's about knowing that people can see it anyway so you might as well tell them - be honest.

But sometimes its important not to tell people things too. You don't have to tell people if you are sad or upset, unless you want to. Its your choice.

As disabled people we have to think about what to tell people and not tell people about what we need and how we might act.

Johari’s window isn’t about telling people everything– its about balance, and thinking about the good and bad things that might happen if you tell people things about yourself.

Ask people and find out more

You can ask people what things they can tell about you - can they tell how you are feeling, or what you like or don't like? Can people tell when you are happy or sad?

Remember, when you ask someone to tell you what they think you might hear some hard things as well as nice things - be prepared!

You can also make sure you find out lots about a subject so you can see the whole picture.

Imagine if you could only feel one part of an elephant - would you know what an elephant would look like? There is a good story about the blind men and the elephant which shows us we have to look for the whole picture and not just know a little bit of the picture.

Go straight to the fable of the blind men and the elephant

And finally...

Think about

• what you tell people about yourself

• what you choose not to tell people about you

• what other people pick up about you because of the way you are

• and what things you could find out more about to help you see the whole picture

Jo Verrent

Sync Project Manager