YOU >>> 1. Understanding yourself

To understand ourselves, these are some methods we can use:

□ Self reflection (look back on things that we have done, in long run & short run)

□ Feedback (try to see how others can perceive us, try it from as many perspectives as possible)

□ Personality Assessment / tests (take aptitude, characteristic & other types of tests to see ourselves from more scientific ways)

Examples of methodologies:

□ Self reflection

o By tasks (Projects, job change, environment change, etc)

o Periodic (Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, & so forth)

o By stages in life (i.e. graduation, end of relationship, promotion, etc)

□ Feedback

o From friends / family

o From colleagues / professional contacts

o From strangers

□ Personality assessment / tests

o Competency / skills based

o Characteristics / tendencies (i.e. Myers-Briggs, Personality Plus, Keirsey, etc.

THE JOHARI WINDOW

Joe Luft and Harry Ingham in the 1950's devised their Johari Window which offers a way of looking at how personality is expressed.

There are aspects of our personality that we're open about, and other elements that we keep to ourselves. At the same time, there are things that others see in us that we're not aware of.

APPLICATION

The application of the Johari Window comes in opening up the public area, so making the other three areas as small as possible. This is done by regular and honest exchange of feedback, and a willingness to disclose personal feelings. People around you will understand what "makes you tick", and what you find easy or difficult to do, and can provide appropriate support. And of course you can then do the same for them.

Self-assessment questionnaires can be used to indicate the size of your public window, but any measure is purely subjective. Therefore the more you do & mroe feedback you collect, will help you define your open area. (refer to diagram below)

Start your own online Johari Window!!

Guidelines to discover yourself:

How often do you take tests?

How diverse are the types of tests you take?

How consistent are the results of the tests?

If they are not, have you thought why?

When answering personality tests, do you answer based on:

1. Who you think you really are? (screw the ‘who you should become’ thing)
2. Who you would like to be?
3. Wild guesses?

If for b. & c., then why not a.?