What is Ontological Coaching?

That’s a great question!

Let’s back up a little first and I’ll answer one of the  questions underneath the question, and that is:

What is Ontology?

A philosophical term, Ontology is an enquiry into the nature of human existence. It is a study into the essence of who we are – what does it mean to be a human being?

Ontology also considers becoming. Where am I going in life?

You can imagine that this is a question that has been asked throughout history.

The question is not so much “Where did I come from?”  but focuses more on what it is to be. 

Is this simply navel gazing? Well no. These types of questions are, I believe, fundamental to having a better life: more joy, more fulfillment, more purpose.

At the core of Ontology is learning: after all, how do we become better humans without learning?

By learning I don’t mean reading or studying – although these are valid steps on the path – but learning as in having knowledge embodied so that we have better results.

A recent article on Fast Company, “Why you should read 50 books this year” suggests we follow many successful business leaders who read voraciously.

What is important though – and not mentioned – is that implementing our reading into our way of being – our life – is what helps make successful leaders, in any area of life.

Reading in and of itself, is not enough.

So what is Ontological Coaching?

Ontological coaching, like most coaching, is both a conversation and a relationship. And ontological coaching also has ontological learning at its heart.

As a conversation, the ontological coach not only holds in observation the coachees way of being (in the three domains of language, emotions and body) and their own way of being but also a third entity that arises: that of the coaching conversation itself.

This means the coach is available to utilise ontological distinctions to observe the coaching conversation and shape the conversation in ways that will be productive to the coachee.

In developing a deep relationship and trust with a coachee an ontological coach can, with permission, help a coachee move towards what is important for them. You can read more about trust here.

Overcoming current challenges is one thing: hopefully that’s what most good coaches can help their coachees to do.

There is another aspect to supporting others in a coaching conversation and that is to provide a platform for generative ontological learning.

In supporting a coachee to be an observer of their own way of being, an ontological coach helps produce a shift in the coachee’s way of being so that they become a different observer and therefore a different learner in the way they can move through life more beneficially and productively.

And maybe not make the same ‘mistakes’. Now there’s an idea!

What is an Ontological Coach?

Clearly a coach is someone who can help enhance another’s performance in specific areas of their lives: We are all aware of football coaches or singing coaches.

An ontological coach is not necessarily a provider of tips and techniques or one who works their way through a set of questions.

At the heart of an ontological coach are their own observations of ‘learning how they learn’ and the ability to draw upon a constellation of distinctions to bring to the coaching conversation and to the coachee to support them in their journey.

Ontological coaching is not science but an art. And like all art, is somewhat creative – yet it is supported by a set of rigorously developed distinctions that underpin its direction.