The person-centered approach - the path to natural communication
"I want to be perceived as a whole and understand myself, deep within myself." This quote reflects the main reason why people attend training in person-centered communication according to Carl. R. Rogers, one of the founders of humanistic psychology.
Our world and our communication are complex and characterized by many models and thought patterns. We delude ourselves into thinking that we can improve our communication with more and better thought-out methods. As a result, we become increasingly entangled in the hectic pace and performance consciousness of our society. Due to these high demands on us and on our dealings with others, the simplicity of expression of genuine communication is no longer possible.
The person-centered approach is about understanding what the other person really wants to communicate. This means opening up to the world of the other person: being alert and noticing every type of expression without judging or evaluating it. It is about finding out what is really there. Not only with the client, but also with the other person. This makes a genuine relationship possible. Relationship work is one of the most important pillars of the person-centered approach.
Not all praise is meaningful
An example from everyday business life: The boss often praises her employees because she has learned that praise increases motivation. The fallacy here is that if she doesn't feel the joy and appreciation behind her words herself, employees get a strange feeling that fuels mistrust: "What is she really trying to tell us?" is a question that often arises in such situations. Only if we also feel the deeper meaning of our words will our message come across authentically.The person-centered approach is not a communication strategy that can be learned. It is an attitude towards myself and others.
