Ep 79: John Heron RIP & Why Emotional Competence is Essential for Leaders Today

John Heron RIP & Why Emotional Competence is Essential for Leaders Today

John Heron, one of the giants of Humanistic Psychology, passed away in November 2022.

In his 1990 piece ‘The Politics of Transference’ John lays out three fundamental guiding principles:

“The first is that, both theoretically and practically, the intrapsychic and interpersonal dimensions of transference are to be seen always in relation to the society-wide and political dimensions.

“This leads on to the second principle, which is that the right to be emotionally competent - which includes the ability to understand and master the dynamics of transference - is the birthright of every person in society.  

“Until this claim is acknowledged, the whole social, organizational and political process will be distorted by people unawarely acting out compulsive victim, compulsive oppressor, compulsive rebel and compulsive rescuer roles.

“This in turn leads to the third principle, that the right to emotional competence is an inalienable and central part of the right of everyone to a proper education.”

While I don’t entirely agree that any particular type of education is our birthright I do agree with everything else John says here.

In short, leaders wishing to make a significant shift of any kind - for themselves, their business or both - are well advised to invest in their emotional competence.  Right now, before transferential material and unconscious acting out of compulsive roles potentially scuppers plans and outcomes.

I highly recommend John’s book Feeling & Personhood for theoretical material along with wonderful experiential exercises. 

Feeling & Personhood: https://amzn.to/3XF1zoN

Also recommended - this in-depth Symposium about John’s life and contribution over many decades.

Celebrating a Great Life: John Heron (1928-2022): A Symposium: https://bit.ly/3kIT5hU

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