From Reflection to Outcomes: Increasing Self Awareness with the Johari Window

How do we translate self-awareness from an abstract concept into a skill people can actually build and apply effectively?

Register now to join Rachel Briggs for a virtual session.

Session Overview

Most leaders believe they understand themselves. However, leaders often operate with an incomplete and inaccurate understanding of themselves, and this gap has real consequences for team performance, morale, and retention. While self-awareness is frequently treated as abstract or intangible, it is both teachable and measurable. We need structured, practical methods for developing it. We do not have full access to how we are perceived by others, nor do we naturally surface all relevant information about ourselves. As a result, improving self-awareness requires intentional tools and processes—not just reflection. The Johari Window offers a powerful and flexible framework for doing this work. This interactive workshop leverages the Johari Window as a practical framework for building self-awareness through direct application. Participants will not only use the model to examine and expand their own self-awareness, but also analyze how it can be intentionally designed into learning experiences across a variety of learning and organizational contexts.

This session directly responds to the theme From Insight to Impact by addressing a persistent challenge in talent development: translating self-awareness into meaningful behavior change and measurable team outcomes. While self-awareness is widely recognized as a core component of emotional intelligence, it is often treated as abstract, difficult to develop, and disconnected from performance. This session reframes self-awareness as a concrete, teachable skill that can be intentionally developed and applied to improve communication, feedback systems, and team effectiveness.

Using the Johari Window as a central framework, participants will explore how gaps in feedback and self-disclosure—particularly within the “Blind” and “Hidden” quadrants—can negatively impact trust, decision-making, and collaboration. This topic is highly relevant to talent and learning development professionals, particularly in the context of current priorities such as coaching and feedback systems, leadership development, and behavior change. The session also aligns with growing emphasis in the field on designing learning experiences that go beyond awareness to drive application and measurable impact. Participants will not only engage with the Johari Window as a personal development tool, but also examine how it can be used as a flexible instructional design framework across a range of learning contexts, including leadership programs to team-based interventions.

Participants will leave with practical tools and strategies they can immediately apply, including methods for diagnosing communication breakdowns, facilitating more effective feedback exchanges, and designing learning experiences that build self-awareness in structured and measurable ways. These applications support improved team performance, increased engagement, and stronger alignment across individuals and teams. The session is grounded in established research on interpersonal communication, feedback, and group dynamics, including the foundational work of Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham. It is further informed by contemporary research on emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and team development, all of which highlight the critical role of self-awareness and open information exchange in driving effective leadership and organizational performance.

About the Presenter

Rachel Briggs, Ph.D., is a seasoned Learning and Development leader with over 15 years of experience designing and managing impactful training programs across diverse industries. A skilled facilitator, instructional designer, and program manager, she brings expertise in emotional intelligence, adult learning, and strategic communication. Rachel has led high-visibility onboarding, e-learning, and professional development initiatives in both corporate and academic settings. She is also a published author and editor with a strong record of collaborative leadership. Rachel holds advanced degrees in Communication and Diversity Education and excels in using data-driven strategies to foster workforce engagement in remote and hybrid environments.

Cancellation Policy: A full refund will be issued if the cancellation request is made on or before 5 calendar days before the scheduled program. Please email events@tdmaine.org with your inquiries.