Discussion – Week 1
Student Exchange: Self-Concept and the Johari Window
Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.
–Golda Meir, former Prime Minister of Israel, teacher, kibbutznik and politician
Your journey into the field of communication begins with knowing yourself. As Golda Meir suggests, knowing and trusting yourself can help you build a successful life. The Johari window provides a simple, yet effective graphic tool to consider parts of your self-concept that you already know, what others know about you, and areas in which knowledge can be gained. By identifying areas of self-knowledge to gain, you identify ways to improve your interpersonal communication expertise. What “sparks of possibility will you discover?
In this Discussion, you begin building a trusting environment with your peers as you share personal insights gathered from constructing a Johari window. You also identify areas where additional self-knowledge can be gained.
To prepare for this Discussion, pay particular attention to the following learning resources and preparation activities
Review this week ‘s Learning Resources and complete the Preparation Activity as outlined below:

Center for Creative Leadership. (Producer). (2017). Building an authentic Leadership Image [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.ccl.org/multimedia/podcast/building-an-authentic-leadership-image/
Mind Tools. (2018). The Johari window: Using self-discovery and communication to build trust. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/JohariWindow.htm
Nair, S. K., & Naik, N. S. (2010). The Johari window profile of executives of a public sector undertaking. Management and Labour Studies, 32(2), 137-148.
Preparation Activity:

Complete a 25-word personal Johari window including the following:

Facade: Think about the past 10 or more years of your life, including both personal and professional relationships. List five words that describe you that others may not consider or think of.
Ask two people who know you well to provide 10 words that describe you (for a total of 20 words). It is important to have a robust list of characteristics or traits from which to conduct a thorough self-analysis. It is alright, and often expected, for some items on the lists to overlap. If either person is unable to come up with 10 words, please ask that he or she provides as many descriptors as possible.

Arena: Analyze the list and select five words that were unsurprising or expected.
Blind spot: Analyze the list and select five words that others know about you but you were surprised to learn.

Post a cohesive response based on your analysis of the learning resources and your professional experience. Be sure to discuss the following:

Evaluate the results of your 25-word Johari window that includes how these words relate to your self-concept. Be sure to address each of the categories in your window.
Compare the differences between your self-concept (façade) and how others describe you.
Analyze your blind spots you identified based on the responses received from the persons who helped you with your Johari window and discuss any surprising outcomes.
Analyze how your self-concept can help you devise strategies for effective professional image, specifically in how you may represent yourself in various settings.

Be sure to support your ideas by connecting them to the week’s Learning Resources, as well as other credible resources you have read; or what you have observed and experienced.
General Guidance: Your original post, due by Day 5 will typically be 3 or 4 paragraphs in length, as a general expectation/estimate. Refer to the Week 1 Discussion 2 Rubric for grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use the rubric to assess your work
Read a selection of your peers’ postings.

Respond to at least two of your peers’ postings in one or more of the following ways:

Share an insight you gained about the topic of self-concept from reading your peer ‘s posts and why that insight is important or what you will do differently as a result of gaining it.
Offer at least one other communication skill that you think can assist your peers in decreasing a blind spot and why you think it will help.
Offer at least one other communication skill that can assist your peers in diminishing a façade and why you think it will help.
Offer an additional strategy that your peers can use to improve how he or she communicates his or her image in a way that aligns with what is intended and your rationale.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights that you have gained as a result of the comments that your peers made.