Steven Pont

About Steven Pont

Steven Pont is a developmental psychologist and systemic therapist. During the lecture, we will discuss three individual and eleven relational factors of the undercurrent, which significantly influence the results of the organizational upper stream. At the age of seventeen, he enrolled in an exchange program with the United States, where he obtained his High School diploma. He then completed the Pedagogical Academy H. Bouman and later earned his master’s degree in developmental psychology at the University of Amsterdam. After his studies, he left for Asia and worked as a volunteer with Mother Teresa in Calcutta.

Upon his return, he worked for many years with children and parents (both outpatient and residential) and later in various managerial roles. For his last employer, he was, for example, the manager of three treatment homes. He then pursued training as a systemic therapist (at NISTO), mediator (at the Dutch Institute for Psychologists), and Socratic conversation leader (at Philosophy in Practice). He now works for himself in various capacities; as a therapist, lecturer, author, educational materials developer, and speaker.

How the undercurrent within an organization determines the results of the upper stream…

In every organization, there is a well-documented, clear, and rational upper stream, where various documents precisely outline the expectations, goals, and job descriptions. The ‘hurdles’ of the different departments and teams are usually well in order, and aspects such as the vision and mission find their place here. It is an important part of every organization, but unfortunately, that is not enough… Almost all work within the organization must be accomplished through collaboration. But collaboration is more than just working together. And the quality of that collaboration is primarily the domain of the irrational undercurrent, rather than the rational upper stream. This applies at both individual and relational levels.

In this lecture, developmental psychologist, systemic therapist, and mediator Steven Pont will therefore not focus on the rational upper stream, but rather on that irrational undercurrent within organizations. And this is of great importance because – to name just one thing – the culture of every organization is determined precisely there. So what forces are at play there, for example? And how can we perhaps make that irrationality a bit more rational together? During the lecture, we will discuss three individual and eleven relational factors of the undercurrent that significantly influence the results of the organizational upper stream.

Publications

Steven writes for various media about psychology, including a regular weekly column in Parool and Algemeen Dagblad. He has also authored several books. In all his books, he tries to introduce his readers to a specific psychological theme in understandable language, covering various areas;

• All Love is Economy discusses the emotional exchange trade within human relationships,
• The Do’s and Don’ts of Parenting covers the basics of parenthood,
• Neurotics! Why You Sometimes Go Crazy from Your Colleagues (and They from You) deals with the sometimes impossible interactions with people at work,
• Good Evil is about anger management,
• ‘There is a System in…!’ addresses system theory,
• Wise Words is a letter book in which 23 well-known Dutch people and professionals from the parenting sector write a letter to their own child(ren) about what they believe is the essence of existence,
• Human Children! describes the developmental psychological development from birth to four years old, and
• Social? Skilled! focuses on the socio-emotional development of children between four and twelve.

Additionally, he was a co-author of the book Must-Willing Assistance, which he wrote with Joep Choy (former director of a psychiatric hospital) and Theo Dorelijers (Professor at VU) for professionals working in compulsory assistance. In 2012, he also provided the Parenting Week gift (Listen to Me!) and will do so again in 2013 (under the name; PlayS!).

About his books, the press has written among others:

• ‘It offers a clear and simply descriptive framework where psychology traditionally requires much more and much more complicated words’ (Monthly Journal for Mental Health),
• ‘Clarifying and important for people trying to understand the fundamental motives in their existence.’ (Elsevier)
• ‘Especially now that there is so much talk about norms and values in parenting, it is commendable that Pont provides concrete tools for this’ (Child and Adolescent Practice).

Steven has also written two children’s books; Jacobus (later translated into Korean) and Jacobus and the Friendship Cake.

Media

In recent years, Steven has also worked as a regular contributor to various television programs, including

• Big Brother, for which he explained group dynamics processes to the viewers,
• Oppassen en Wegwezen, where he provided short-term relationship therapy in a villa in Italy,
• Maximum Reached, about the psychological aspect of accumulating debt,
• SOS Sonja, a program around Sonja Bakker, about the psychological aspect of overeating,
• Men of a Certain Age, about the aging man, and
• The Worst Husband in the Netherlands, in which he, along with Goedele Liekens, Bram Bakker, and Marja Middelkoop, serves as a jury member for this program (currently airing on TV with BNN, Netherlands 1)

Furthermore, he gives training sessions, lectures, and workshops that may vary widely but can all be traced back to the one subject in which he has specialized over the years; psychology. He is also frequently asked by the media for his opinion on psychological topics (last year, among others, by EenVandaag, Koffietijd, NRC, Psychology Magazine, Trouw, This is The Day, and the Youth Journal).

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