Carl Rogers on Being Person Centered

Carl Rogers is often considered the second most influential psychologist of the Twentieth Century because of his humanistic approach to psychology (only Sigmund Freud is rated higher). His influence is so fundamental to person-centered theories that we often don’t realize that most of the theory begins with one man.

This video is Carl Rogers explaining some of the key tenets of his approach to psychology.  I am always astounded when I have a chance to listen to recordings or read his material. Very seldom does Carl Rogers say “You should…” or “The best way is to….” Instead, he talks about what he does and what he tries to accomplish.  The core piece that Carl Rogers teaches is not about telling others what to do, but is about him telling others what he does.

Carl Rogers talk about three core conditions that he strives to produce:

• Can I be real in the relationship?
• Will I find myself praising or caring for this person?
• Will I be able to understand this person’s inner world from her side?

Please take a few minutes and listen to how a Nobel Prize nominee takes responsibility for himself. It’s a great message for leaders about being the model of what you want to see in the world.