Beginning 14 June 2025 (Melbourne time zone). First session live on Zoom
For those who care, who lead, and who are here to make a difference.
Coach. Lead. Mobilise. Make change real.
Beginning 14 June 2025 (Melbourne time zone). First session live on Zoom
For those who care, who lead, and who are here to make a difference.
Coach. Lead. Mobilise. Make change real.
Bringing Ontological Coaching and
Leadership to Life
through reflection, conversation, and meaningful practice.
Bringing Ontological Coaching and
Leadership to Life
through reflection, conversation, and meaningful practice.
✨In 20 weeks you could build better relationships, take bold new actions,
and create outcomes you didn’t think were possible.
Cultivate the leader you need to be to do what you need to do.
A practical, real-world learning lab for coaches, leaders and committed learners
Are you ready to take what you know about ontological coaching and leadership and actually live it—in your work, your relationships, and your everyday moments?
This program is for those who have already encountered the principles of ontological coaching—whether through formal training, books, or conversations—and want to deepen their understanding through practice, community, and real-life application.
You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to care about how you show up in the world—and be ready to grow.
What we offer
Together, Deanne and I will guide you through a learning experience that brings the distinctions of ontological coaching off the page and into your life. We’ll create a space for honest conversation, real reflection, and practical experimentation.
This is not about learning more concepts. It’s about embodying what you already know—and discovering what becomes possible when you do.
You’ll feel at home here if:
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You’ve completed a program like Ontological Coaching and Leadership in Action (OCLA) or the Certified Ontological Coaching and Leadership Program (COCLP).
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You’ve read Deanne’s book What if Life Came with a User Guide or worked with an ontological coach.
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You’ve trained in another coaching or leadership modality and feel drawn to the ontological perspective.
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You’re a committed learner, interested in the subtle skills of presence, language, mood, and coordination.
You might be seeking:
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A way to refresh and reconnect with the ontological work you’ve already done.
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A structured, supportive space to deepen your coaching or leadership practice.
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A more grounded and embodied way of responding to life’s everyday breakdowns.
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A community of peers who are walking the same path—curious, humble, and committed.
What’s possible through this program:
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You show up more powerfully as a leader, coach, or colleague.
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You bring greater care and clarity to your conversations and relationships.
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You feel more grounded in the face of uncertainty and challenge.
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You shift a part of your life that’s been stuck or stagnant.
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You become someone who lives what you’ve learned—not just understands it.
"... this is a fantastic innovation Ian, and the way you have designed this is very very cleverly done"
Alan Sieler*
* Alan is the author of the four-volume set "Coaching to the Human Soul: Ontological Coaching and Deep Change" and CEO of The Ontological Coaching Institute. Alan developed the courses Ontological Coaching and Leadership in Action and the Certified Ontological Coaching and Leadership Program. His programs are available in Australia, South Africa, Europe, Asia and the USA.
A Structure for Practice, Growth, and Meaningful Change
Bringing Ontological Coaching and Leadership to Life is not a course in the traditional sense. It’s a 20-week learning lab—a structured space to deepen your practice, reflect on your experience, and take action in real life.
It’s designed to help you bring the principles of ontological coaching into your work, leadership, and day-to-day living. Whether you’ve completed Coaching in Action, trained with the Ontological Coaching Institute, or been learning independently, this program offers a way to go further—supported by community, guided by structure, and grounded in practice.
Norris Wong (Hong Kong)
Norris is a graduate of The Ontological Coaching Institute.
She is an HR consultant and executive coach based in Hong Kong.
"The beauty of this program is its combination of refreshing our memory with some reading, our self-reflection through journaling and the Zoom meeting to discuss our own reflection findings. After each session people are eager to share their findings, their observations.
We cannot just learn the theories without practicing. Even when I practice, there's still a lot of unknown space I can explore further through the program. This is what I find most valuable."
What you’ll receive
Over 20 weeks, you’ll be supported to create meaningful change in your coaching, your leadership, or another part of life that matters to you.
You’ll get:
🌀 A clear framework for learning and application
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A nine-module, twenty-week structure based in part on Alan Sieler’s Ontological Coaching and Leadership in Action
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Reflective reading, short video content, and suggested practices every fortnight
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Practical assignments to take action and observe differently in your life
👥 Supportive human connection
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A small, trusted community of ontological learners
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Fortnightly Zoom conversations with peers and program coaches
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A dedicated peer coach or conversation partner for the full 20 weeks
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An online space to celebrate wins, share reflections, and ask for support
🗣 A place where the language makes sense
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Talk ontological shop with people who get it
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Explore distinctions without needing to translate
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Reflect with experienced practitioners who can meet you where you are
With full participation, you’ll have the opportunity to create a real breakthrough—especially in an area of life where you feel stuck, uncertain, or ready for change.
Carole Lewis (Hong Kong)
Carole is a graduate of the 18-month COCLP offered by The Ontological Coaching Institute. She is a communication coach and executive coach based in Hong Kong and working around Asia.
"What stood out for me was deepening my learning around way of being, second order learning and generative language. I've used those things and integrated them into my coaching, so it's been really helpful.
If you're looking to deepen your awareness around the ontological concepts, I definitely recommend this program."
How the program works
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Duration: 20 weeks
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Modules: New module released every two weeks
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Live calls: Fortnightly Zoom sessions (times chosen with global participants in mind)
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Peer practice: Weekly conversations with your peer coach or partner
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Access: All materials available online for 12 months, with most content downloadable for private use
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Catch-up friendly: All Zoom calls recorded and posted to a private site
How you can participate
There’s no one “right” way to do this program.
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Some people get the most from the Zoom sessions and group conversation.
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Others find their breakthrough in the weekly peer coaching.
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Some work quietly in the background—reflecting, reading, and taking action in their own lives.
All of these are valid. You choose your level of engagement. We provide the structure—you take responsibility for what you create.
What this is (and what it’s not)
This is not a coach training program or a content-heavy course.
This is a structure for taking action—supported by reflection, conversation, and shared practice. It’s a way to learn by doing: to notice what’s working, explore what isn’t, and shift how you show up in the world.
Each module includes:
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Suggested reading (including selected materials from the Newfield Institute, with thanks to Alan Sieler)
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Reflective questions and practical assignments
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A chance to apply distinctions in real-time, with the support of a peer
If you’re looking to become an accredited ontological coach, we recommend contacting the Ontological Coaching Institute.
The 'Bringing Ontological Coaching to Life' program provides a terrific overview of the core principals of Ontological Coaching. For me, it was a great way to engage and to be inspired to continue that journey. Ontological Coaching has many benefits for coaches and leaders alike and this program provides some good content that is easily digestible. Enjoy!
Karin Ovara
Leadership & Behaviour-IQ Coach
This programme was a great way for me to reengage with some of the core principles of ontological coaching and to do so in the company of other practitioners. I loved the interaction with others and the sharing of the application of the learning.
Jeremy Stunt
Ontological Coach and Ontological Coach Trainer, UK
Andy Coombs (Australia)
Andy is a graduate of The Ontological Coaching Institute.
He is a former senior Australian Public Servant and now a consultant.
"You were quite explicit, both of you, that you created a space of permission about how we could engage. And for me that was actually quite helpful. ... So, the accessibility of learning was really attractive to me. Straight away without even seeing the design or the details, it was clearly affordable. I thought it was a very affordable option."
Course Modules
A 20-week journey through foundational ontological distinctions
Each module introduces a key ontological concept or distinction, supported by guided reflection, real-life application, and community learning. The structure is steady, but the content will adapt based on the needs of the group.
Module | Topic | What You’ll Explore | |||
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1 | 🌀 | Welcome and Introduction | Orientation, getting present, and setting your intention for learning and change. | ||
2 | 👂 | Listening | Why deep listening is the most under-practised and powerful leadership skill—and how to transform it. | ||
3 | 🧠 | Assertions & Assessments | Distinguish between facts and opinions—how your meaning-making shapes your world. | ||
4 | 📣 | Requests & Responses | The foundation of mobilisation, delegation, and negotiation—how to make and receive powerful requests. | ||
5 | 🤝 | Promises & Promise Management | Build trust and reliability through commitments. How promise-making shapes integrity and identity. Explore the 'commitment cycle', the conversations at the heart of delegation, mobilisation and collaboration. | ||
6 | 📜 | Declarations | Speak new futures into being. Learn how declarations create openings for change. | ||
7 | 🌧️ | Observing Moods | Understand how moods shape perception and action—and how to shift them. | ||
8 | 🌤️ | Six Basic Moods of Life | Learn to navigate six foundational moods that show up in leadership, coaching, and life. | ||
9 | 🧘♂️ | Observing the Body | Reconnect with the body as a domain of presence, learning, and embodied communication. | ||
last Zoom |
🎉 | Completion & Celebration | Reflect on your learning, acknowledge growth, and set your course for what comes next. |
Purchasing options
Standard Price
$147 now, 4 installments
747
$747
Pay in Full
$50 Discount
747
$697
Review Price
Welcome Back!
747
$497
Meet your learning guides and facilitators
Ian Higginbottom
Leadership Coach
Executive Coach
I don't give you simple answers; rather, I help you explore important questions and design a new future in some area of your life (which might be your leadership or business). You get to develop—for yourself—new ways of observing the world, new ways of acting in the world, and new ways of being in the world. Futures that seemed impossible become possible, and futures that seemed unlikely become probable. You take new actions that turn possibilities into tangible results.
Deanne Duncombe
Customer Success Manager
Ontological Coach, Author
I love helping people create new perspectives and outcomes. I will explore ideas with you that you can use to help navigate the inevitable challenges that pop up in everyday life. You get to choose how you use those ideas to create the life that you want. To access the power of choice and create useful outcomes. To be the author and leader of your own life.
As a recent grad of the Newfield Coach training program, this course reinforced my own journey of self-discovery in examining how the use of language, emotions & body affects the way i am 'showing up' each day, and the quality of my relationships. It also provided an opportunity to further develop my skill in exploring these concepts and creating new possibilities with my coaching clients. I would recommend Ian's course to anyone who has participated in a Newfield training program who wishes to reinforce the learning and application of ontological concepts in their life - regardless of whether one is a pursuing a career as a professional coach. Ian is a gentle soul who has a firm grasp of the ontological coaching method, while embodying the spirit of an ongoing learner. His style fosters a safe environment for self-inquiry and discovery, which contributes to the richness of learning. I am grateful for this opportunity to develop new friendships with Ian and other growth-oriented people from across the globe, who are seeking to make a positive impact in the world.
Mitch S.
USA
Before taking the Bringing Ontological Coaching and Learning to Life course, my experience with Ontological Coaching was minimal, gained only through conversations with Deanne and reading her book and others that she recommended. However, Deanne and Ian’s approach, along with the structure of the course, provided an engaging and insightful introduction that had a profound impact on my personal and professional growth. The openness of the other participants in sharing their experiences created a welcoming and supportive environment, helping me feel comfortable despite my limited prior knowledge.
Through its unique focus on language, emotions, and body awareness, I developed greater self confidence and a deeper understanding of how my way of being influences my interactions. The course was both thought provoking and practical, making complex concepts accessible and immediately applicable. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their self awareness and communication skills.
Kate McHenry
Executive
Curious but not quite ready to commit?
If you're unsure whether this program is the right next step—or you'd simply like to talk it through—you're welcome to book a conversation with Ian. No pressure, just a real conversation about where you are now and what you’re looking for.
Or, if the timing’s not quite right, join the waitlist to stay in the loop and hear when enrolments open again.
Ian and Deanne discuss what inspired them to offer the Bringing Ontological Coaching and Leadership to Life Program.