Starting 15 March 2025 (Melbourne)
We believe the world needs more people who care about people to coach, lead and moblise action to improve the world.
Starting 15 March 2025 (Melbourne)
We believe the world needs more people who care about people to coach, lead and moblise action to improve the world.
A Learning Community,
conversation, practice, and support.
Bringing Ontological Coaching and Leadership to Life
A Learning Community,
conversation, practice, and support.
Bringing Ontological Coaching and Leadership to Life
Join us on a life-enhancing adventure.
Deepen your understanding of coaching and leading using ontological distinctions.
Develop and practise the know-how to coach, manage and lead to change your life and impact the people you care about.
Cultivate the person you need to be to do what you need to do.
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."
Are you up for an adventure applying the principles of ontological coaching and leadership to your life?
Whether you are a novice or a 'new beginner', would you like to learn, practise and use the distinctions of ontological coaching in the company of a community of peers?
Deanne and I offer to support you on the next leg of your learning journey and growth as a coach and leader. We will create a conversational space where you can deepen your understanding of the concepts of ontological coaching and, most importantly, apply what you have learned to your life, whether coaching, leadership, or dealing with the everyday breakdowns of living.
You are likely to be a good fit for this program if:
1) You are someone with a grounding in the principles of Ontological Coaching and leadership or want to learn powerful new skills for leadership, coaching and life. You might have done some of the following:
- Ontological Coaching and Leadership in Action with Alan Sieler or the Ontological Coaching Institute. and not yet ready for the COCLP.
- Certified Ontological Coaching and Leadership Program (COCLP) and looking to continue and deepen your learning.
- Powerful Conversations for Leadership and Collaboration or coaching with Ian Higginbottom
- Other courses or books that have given you a grounding in the principles of Ontological Coaching or leadership.
- Or, you are a keen learner and want to be part of a learning group exploring skills of human interaction and leadership.
2) You are looking for one or more of the following:
- A way to deepen and embed the learning from a course you have recently completed.
- A "refresher" to remind you of what you already know but seem to have forgotten.
- A way to deepen your ontological coaching practice with your clients.
- A more effective way to lead your team to produce outstanding results and a great culture.
- An environment and structure for personal growth.
- A space to stay engaged in the ontological conversation.
- A community where you can have rich conversations arising from self-reflection and taking on challenges in life and work.
Outcomes that are possible from your participation in this program:
- A greater facility in applying the linguistic, emotional and bodily distinctions of ontological coaching.
- More effective leadership and management in various domains of life.
- You have taken your coaching to a new level and are impacting your clients' lives in a new way.
- You have improved the quality of professional and/or personal relationships and resolved conflicts.
- You have transformed an area of life that is important to you.
- You are more resourceful when challenged by positive or negative breakdowns and work and at home.
- You have enjoyed and valued being a member of a committed learning community.
Alan Sieler* speaking about Bringing Ontological Coaching to Life
"... this is a fantastic innovation Ian, and the way you have designed this is very very cleverly done"
* 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.
Ian and Deanne discuss what inspired them to offer the Bringing Ontological Coaching and Leadership to Life Program.
Bringing Ontological Coaching and Leadership to Life is designed to provide a structure for learning and a community of support that will allow you to extend your learning and add value to your participation in Coaching in Action, other ontological training courses and self-study.
You will get:
- Support for 20 weeks to create a breakthrough in an area of your coaching, leadership or life.
- A nine-module, twenty-week, guided program to practice key ontological distinctions (based in part on the content of Alan Seiler's Ontological Coaching and Leadership in Action program).
- A fortnightly adventure assignment - with suggestions for observing and taking action in your life.
- Membership in a small community of supportive ontological learners.
- Interaction with people who won't mind when you use ontological jargon.
- An opportunity to explore and discuss ontological distinctions with experienced coaches and peers.
- An online forum to celebrate taking action and for support and coaching from your peers and the program coaches.
- Your own reciprocal (peer) coach or conversation partner for 20 weeks.
- A space to practice leadership or coaching conversations with a fellow participant.
- A fortnightly Zoom conversation with your peers and program coaches where you can learn, share experiences, ask questions and get coaching.
- With full participation, the chance to create a significant breakthrough in an area of life where you are currently experiencing a breakdown (or want to create one).
Program structure
The program will include reflective reading, video presentations, suggested actions for application in your life, peer coaching, group interaction by Zoom video meeting and support from the facilitators and peers. We will learn together over 20 weeks, with a new module released every two weeks. We will get together for a video meet-up every other week. We will choose times for the meet-ups based on where in the world participants are located in an attempt to avoid running them in the middle of the night for some participants. Each fortnight, you will be notified by email when material for the new module is released. Video meet-ups will be recorded and posted on a private members' site so you can access the discussion even if you miss a meeting. You can access the online material for twelve months and download most videos and documents for your private use.
Ways to participate
Previous participants have engaged in different ways with the program. Some turned up to the Zoom meetings and engaged in conversation without doing much else and got great value. Some could not attend the Zoom meetings but engaged in the reflective questions and took action in their life. Others got the most value from the weekly conversation with their peer partner. Many dived in, read background material, took action in their life and participated in the Zoom calls. Whatever way you want to engage with the material is valid. We invite you to participate in a way that works for you and take responsibility for getting value from the program.
What the program is and is not
This program is not a training course that provides detailed teaching of content. The program is a structure for taking action in your life, being used by the ontological distinctions and observing differently in your coaching practice, leadership roles and/or personal life. Each module will give you access to relevant reading material, including pages from Newfield Institute's "Ontological Coaching and Leadership in Action" program (with generous permission from Alan Sieler). You will also get a list of reflective questions and suggested activities. The structure will support you to observe and act newly in any area of your life where you would like to bring about change or transformation. If you are looking for a coach training program we recommend you contact The Ontological Coaching Institute.
Modules
The modules and their content are subject to revision and will look something like this:
Module |
Topic |
|
Module 1 |
Welcome and Introduction |
|
Module 2 |
Listening |
Probably the most important and under-practised skill of leadership and life. |
Module 3 |
Assertions and Assessments |
Distinguishing facts from opinions and 'what happened' from the meaning we added. |
Module 4 |
Requests and responses to requests |
Keys to mobilisation, delegation and negotiation. |
Module 5 |
Promises and promise management |
Keys to trust, collaboration and reliable execution. Central to integrity and our public identity. |
Module 6 |
Declarations |
How to change the future with your speaking - speaking a new possible future into existence. |
Module 7 |
Observing moods |
You and me; we are always in moods with associated stories of the future. |
Module 8 |
6 Basic Moods of life |
Mastery in recognising and navigating the space of these six moods is a crucial skill for leaders. |
Module 9 |
Observing the body |
We are not brains in bottles. Our bodies 'speak' to ourselves and others. |
Last Zoom |
Completion. |
Reflect and complete the program, celebrate achievements, plan what's next. |
We will listen to you, read what you share in the forum, and modify modules and their content based on our assessment of what will best serve your learning.
What past participants have said ...
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
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
Curious and still not sure if this program is for you now?
Book a conversation with Ian to get your questions answered.
We are really looking forward to learning with you!
Ian Higginbottom
Business Improvement 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.
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.