Coaching to the

Human Soul
Ontological Coaching and Deep Change
Volume IV

ALAN SIELER
 Coaching to the
Human Soul

Ontological Coaching and Deep Change

Alan Sieler
First published by Newfield Institute 2020
© Alan Sieler

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in

a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means without the
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publisher.

National Library of Australia

Cataloguing-in-Publication data:

Sieler, Alan
Coaching to the human soul: ontological coaching and deep change :
volume 4: towards professional artistry and ontological coaching.

Bibliography.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-646-98594-7

1. Ontology. 2. Language and languages. 3. Learning, Psychology of.

111

Newfield Institute
7 Rigani Court
Blackburn, Victoria 3130
www.newfieldinstitute.com.au

Edited by Emma Gilmour

Indexed by Karen Gillen
Cover Design by David Constable
Printed in China
 Coaching to the
Human Soul
Ontological Coaching and Deep Change

Volume IV

Towards Professional Artistry

with Ontological Coaching
 Contents

List of Illustrations vii

Introduction ix
PART I
PROFESSIONAL ARTISTRY
1 The Notion of Artistry 1
2 Some Philosophical Perspectives on Artistry 19
3 The Potential for Professional Artistry in
Ontological Coaching 38
4 A Path to Professional Artistry I 58
5 A Path to Professional Artistry II 78
6 Dionysian Wisdom and Professional Artistry 106
PART II
ONTOLOGICAL DESIGN: A BASIS FOR ARTISTRY IN
ONTOLOGICAL COACHING
7 Ontological Design and Coaching Artistry 138
8 The Coach as an Ontological Learner I 149
9 The Coach as an Ontological Learner II 172
10 Permanent Domains of Human Concern 200
11 Ontological Self-Coaching I 234
12 Ontological Self-Coaching II 263
PART III
CULTIVATING ARTISTRY IN ONTOLOGICAL COACHING
13 Introducing a Dynamic Process Model of Ontological
Coaching 288

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 14 Phase 1: Being in the Most Resourceful Way of
Being for the Coachee 314
15 Phase 2: Conversation for Clarity and Artistry in
Questioning 353
16 Phase 3: Conversation for Exploration and Possibility I 375
17 Phase 3: Conversation for Exploration and Possibility II 410
18 The Final Phases of the Coaching Engagement 436
PART IV
HISTORICAL POSITIONING OF ONTOLOGICAL
COACHING
19 The Historical Relevance of Ontological Coaching 446
20 The Contribution of Ontological Coaching to the
Professionalisation of Coaching 473
Appendix 498
Acknowledgments 502
About the author 504
Bibliography 506
Index 514

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 List of Illustrations

Figure 1 A language field associated with the notion of

artistry.
Figure 2 A general interpretation of the relationships between
different dimensions of knowing.
Figure 3 Overview of the ontological design process.
Figure 4 An ontological interpretation of learning.
Figure 5 The ontological nature of learning.
Figure 6 The Space of Nothingness.
Figure 7 Some Allies of Learning.
Figure 8 Some Enemies of Learning.
Figure 9 Summary of Permanent Domains of Human
Concern.
Figure 10 Utilising Permanent Domains of Human Concern.
Figure 11 Stages in the process of Ontological Self-Coaching I.
Figure 12 Summary of the unhelpful and more resourceful
Ways of Being for dealing with a breakdown
Figure 13 The essence of Ontological Self-Coaching II.
Figure 14 Existential Goal Setting – what.
Figure 15 Allies of Learning that support your coaching.
Figure 16 Additional Allies of Learning you would like to
support your coaching.
Figure 17 Assessments of your best qualities as a coach.
Figure 18 Additional coaching strengths and qualities desired.
Figure 19 Enemies of Learning that do not support your
coaching.

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Figure 20 Unhelpful aspects of Way of Being and behaviour
that limit coaching.
Figure 21 Different Ways of Being and behaviours that will
enhance my coaching.
Figure 22 Inter-relationship between the structure of Way of
Being and history.
Figure 23 Phases of the Ontological Coaching Engagement.
Figure 24 Way of Being: The underlying driver of behaviour
and communication.
Figure 25 First-order and Second-Order Learning.
Figure 26 Ontological shift.
Figure 27 Some of the actions of the coach when coaching.
Figure 28 Fundamental principles and generic competences of
Ontological Coaching.
Figure 29 Relationship as the higher order context for
coaching.
Figure 30 Ontological shift: The formation of a new coherence
of language, emotions and body.
Figure 31 The inter-relationship between Way of Being and
action.
Figure 32 Overlap between Ontological Coaching and
counselling.
Figure 33 A set of questions for coaching to the mood of
Resentment.
Figure 34 A set of questions for coaching to the mood of
Resignation.
Figure 35 The dynamic interrelationship between theory,
methodology and practice in Ontological Coaching.

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 Introduction

About Volume IV
Readers familiar with Ontological Coaching will be aware that
its distinguishing feature is a focus on the Way of Being of clients.
Way of Being contains our perceptions and attitudes, many of
which are deep-seated and out-of-awareness, and is regarded as
the underlying driver of our behaviour and communication.
This book builds on Volumes I, II and III of Coaching to
the Human Soul: Ontological Coaching and Deep Change by
integrating and deepening the many ways available to coach in
each of the three existential domains of language, emotions and
body that constitute Way of Being. It is worth briefly recapping
what is covered in each of the first three volumes.
• Volume I, subtitled The Linguistic Basis of Ontological
Coaching, articulated in detail how language is a process
(referred to as languaging) humans are continually immersed in
that generates what is real for them. Ontological coaches have
unique distinctions in language that enable them to: (i) observe
how clients may be generating unhelpful realities through the
way they use and do not use language and (ii) how to support
them develop more helpful languaging skills and habits.
• Volume II, subtitled Emotional Learning and Ontological
Coaching, established that emotions and moods are integral
aspects of our biology and that to be human is inevitably to be
an emotioning being. By recognising that moods and emotions
continually shape perceptions and behaviour, and being able to
discern the effects of specific moods and emotions, ontological
coaches assist clients to make constructive shifts in their
emotional worlds that enable them to engage more effectively
in life.

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Coaching to the Human Soul

• Volume III, subtitled The Biological and Somatic Basis of

Ontological Coaching, introduced the field of Biology of
Cognition, which provides a powerful understanding of the
centrality of the nervous system in human perception, learning
and behaviour. The inevitable involvement of the nervous
system means that the entire body is involved in learning and
change. Gaining a biological, philosophical and physiological
appreciation of the body as a domain of learning and change
provides a foundation for knowing how to utilise specific ways
of respectfully coaching to the body to maximise the possibility
of deep change.
Throughout each book the crucial importance of legitimising
clients by coaching sensitively and respectfully is emphasised,
which includes sometimes ensuring permission is provided to
explore aspects of the client’s Way of Being.
The project of integrating and deepening the ontological
approach to coaching that takes place in this volume is explained
through a number of interrelated themes:
• understanding the nature of artistry and professional artistry;
• detailed awareness of how artistry in Ontological Coaching can
be developed;
• the relevance of Ontological Coaching to the challenge of
dealing with existential issues in contemporary societies;
• the contribution of artistry in Ontological Coaching to the
professionalisation of coaching.
While most of the book covers the process of moving towards
artistry in Ontological Coaching, an appreciation of the potentially
invaluable social contribution of this approach can be gained by
situating it in an historical context. There are two components
of this context, which are expressed as “dealing with existential
issues” and “the professionalisation of coaching”. Although this
historical context occurs in the last two chapters of the book,
gaining an initial overview of the context will be helpful for being
oriented to this final volume of Coaching to the Human Soul.

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 Introduction

The growing challenge of dealing with

existential issues
The increasingly fast-changing nature of the world, sometimes
described as unprecedented in human history, and its ramifications
for our wellbeing have been addressed at different stages in each
of the previous three volumes. It has become apparent that one
of the consequences of current historical circumstances for many
societies has been the increasing incidence of what are expressed
as mental health concerns, such as depression and anxiety. These
breakdowns in the wellbeing of individuals are the province of
skilled mental health practitioners, such as psychologists and
counsellors.
Coaches are not mental health practitioners and should not
attempt to be so without appropriate education and training.
However, it can be interpreted that the growth of coaching since
the mid nineteen nineties as a means of supporting people in their
personal and professional lives indicates an important social need
that is separate to mental health concerns. This need can be framed as
the continual challenge of effectively dealing with existential issues.
Experiencing persistent difficulties in life, a general sense of
dissatisfaction and not making desired progress can be regarded
as existential issues. The ever-present challenges of organisational
performance, leadership effectiveness and workplace satisfaction
are existential issues.
People act or behave on the basis of their perceptions. Perceptual
and behavioural patterns are learned through the history of life
experiences. These patterns often serve us well and sometimes
not, and we can become stuck in outdated patterns that render
us ineffective. This means that we have not been successful in
developing more helpful ways of perceiving and acting in the
circumstances we find ourselves in. In times of rapid change there
is a risk that our habitual ways of perceiving and responding to
different aspects of the world no longer work and the quality of
our existence becomes compromised.
Existential challenges can also be framed as the challenge
of living well, experiencing a satisfactory quality of existence

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Coaching to the Human Soul

and being effective in different areas of life without feeling the

need for mental health support. Living well especially includes
experiencing life as fulfilling, meaningful and suitably stimulating.
It also involves effectively dealing with significantly unsettling life
events that are inevitable aspects of human existence, which can be
intensified in times of rapid change.
There is also a risk that continuing ineffectiveness in dealing
with existential issues can lead to the development of mental
health and deeper psychological issues. When done well coaching
can provide invaluable support for enhancing people’s abilities for
dealing with existential issues, reducing the risk of mental health
issues developing and contributing to the overall wellbeing of
society. However, there is a crucial consideration that is not to
be overlooked if coaching is to provide the required support for
existential issues. This is ensuring that coaches have a well-honed
conceptual and practical working knowledge of human perception
and behaviour.
If coaches are to be sufficiently skilled in supporting clients to
deal with existential issues it is essential that they have a deeply
grounded understanding of human perception and behaviour,
which this is informed by a body of knowledge or a discipline
that enables extensive practical learning of the application of the
discipline.
Ontological Coaching is grounded in a discipline of human
perception and behaviour known as Ontology of the Human
Observer. The ideas of renowned thinkers in different areas of
philosophy and biology have been integrated to form a discipline
that has a substantive theoretical foundation and a well-articulated
coaching methodology for effective practice.

The professionalisation of coaching

Despite statements that position coaching as a new profession1
coaching is not yet a profession. While various associations and
tertiary institutions in different parts of the world provide coaching
certification, coaching is an unregulated industry and unfortunately
falls well short of what is required to be a profession.
One of the requirements of a profession is that it is based on

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 Introduction

a substantive and coherent body of knowledge – a discipline. If

coaching is to develop long-term standing in the community as a
viable means of providing support for existential issues, it is vital
that it is seen to be based on a sound discipline. As was stated in
the Introduction to Volume I:
In the absence of sound theory and practice, there is a risk
that coaching could be marginalised and trivialised, and it
will be seen as a fad, which anyone can do by attaching the
label ‘coach’ to themselves. If this happens, it will be a huge
blow to the potential of coaching to make the world a better
place by enriching people’s personal and professional lives.2
Being effective in assisting people to make progress with
existential issues requires more than developing a set of minimal
coaching competences. It requires experiential understanding of
the complexities and nuances of human perception and behaviour
through immersion in a discipline and its practical applications.
While competences are an important starting point, coaching
proficiency goes one step further through the acquisition of
complex skillsets that equip the coach to be sufficiently versatile
and adaptable to engage deeply with clients across a wide range of
existential issues.
By being a coaching discipline Ontological Coaching can make
an important contribution to enhancing the professionalisation of
coaching.

The development of coaching artistry

The elegant, graceful and highly effective application of one or
more complex skillsets in any area of human endeavour can be
regarded as a form of artistry. A typical view of artistry is that it
only applies to those with extraordinary talents in artistic fields
such as painting and dancing. However, artistry can be observed
in the everyday activities of people who are highly skiful in dealing
with complex issues, such as smoothly managing three young
children on an extensive shopping trip or the deftness of a business
leader in how they relate with their team in managing the change
associated with merging with another company.

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Coaching to the Human Soul

Donald Schön recognised that artistry could be observed

in the work of professional practitioners and invented the term
“professional artistry”.3 He observed some practitioners who
seemed extraordinarily skilful in successfully handling unexpected
non-routine situations, without appearing to have more content
knowledge than other practitioners. He assessed that they seemed
to know the most appropriate thing to do in the most appropriate
way at the most appropriate time. Such action can appear simple on
the surface. However, this impression belies the deep commitment
of the practitioner and embodiment of skills through years of
dedicated practice and experience, underpinned by a constant
desire to learn and continually improve.
As coaching is not a profession it is premature to refer to
coaches developing professional artistry. However, we can consider
how: (i) coaching artistry can be developed in the application of a
discipline of human perception and behaviour, such as Ontology
of the Human Observer and (ii) the development of such artistry
can contribute towards the professionalisation of coaching.
Moving towards artistry in Ontological Coaching involves
the gradual embodiment of fundamental coaching principles and
skills, as well as a range of complex skillsets in each of the three
existential domains of language, emotions and body. Foremost in
the embodiment process is the coach’s continual engagement in
ontological design and transformation of their Way of Being. This
requires engaging in self-coaching as a regular practice of applying
the methodology of Ontological Coaching for addressing their
own existential issues.
Cultivating artistry in Ontological Coaching comes not only
from extensive coaching experience, but also from continual
reflection on each coaching engagement. This consists of the coach
reflecting on:
• their Way of Being in each session and if it allowed them to
effectively utilise their coaching skillsets for the benefit of their
client; and
• how skilfully they used appropriate aspects of the coaching
methodology to facilitate the coachee to develop helpful new
perceptions and behaviours.

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 Introduction

The reflection process includes the coach’s individual reflections,

as well as regular shared reflections with fellow coaches and
mentor coaches.

Outline of Volume IV
Towards Professional Artistry With Ontological Coaching consists
of four sections.
Part I, Professional Artistry, contains three chapters on the
notions of artistry and professional artistry, which includes the views
of notable philosophers that are consistent with the philosophical
underpinnings of Ontological Coaching. Also included are two
chapters outlining a framework of complex skill acquisition that
illuminates the inevitable phases to be passed through on a path to
coaching artistry. Finally, in this section the crucial role of intuition
in the development of artistry in the latter phases of complex skill
acquisition is expounded.
Part II, Ontological Design, outlines in detail the importance
of the coach being continually active and increasingly skilled in
applying the ontological methodology to enhance the quality of
their own existence. This is regarded as an indispensable basis for
becoming proficient in supporting clients to deal with existential
issues in their personal and working lives. Engaging in ontological
design consists of three components.
Firstly, the coach ensuring they are open to continually learn
about and expand their own Way of Being, as well as other aspects
of human perception and behaviour. Being an ontological learner
is indispensable for the development of coaching artistry.
The second component of ontological design is the utilisation
of a framework called Permanent Domains of Human Concern to
reflect in detail on the quality of existence that is being experienced
in the wide range of areas or domains of life that the coach is
inevitably involved in. Identifying the specific areas of life that
are going well and the areas of life in which there is a desire for
improvement is an essential part of what can be called “existential
goal setting”.
The third component of ontological design is Ontological Self-
Coaching. Enhancing the quality of existence comes from self-

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Coaching to the Human Soul

generated shifts in perception and behaviour, which is greatly

facilitated by self-coaching. Ontological Self-Coaching is oriented
toward the coach developing the practice of the self-transformation
of their being and becoming more self-authoring in this process.
Part III, Cultivating Artistry in Ontological Coaching, is
based on a dynamic process model of Ontological Coaching that
identifies five phases of the coaching engagement. Coaching artistry
is evident when coach works proficiently through each of the five
phases, providing a conversational context in which the coachee
can make important discoveries and undergo a significant shift in
their Way of Being. A detailed exposition of the complex skillsets
associated with each phase is provided, which includes the skilful
application of the fundamental principles and generic competences
of Ontological Coaching.
Part IV, Historical Positioning of Ontological Coaching,
contends that Ontological Coaching is an innovative and history-
making endeavour that can facilitate clients enhancing their
ontological security and adaptive resilience, enabling them to
make progress with their existential issues. In addition, this section
advances the interpretation that because Ontological Coaching
is based on a solid theoretical foundation, has a well-articulated
methodology and ensures extensive practice and experiential
learning, it has a significant contribution to make to advancing the
professionalisation of coaching.
Two additional points are important to note in reading this
book.
• As with the previous volumes, a combination of examples of
Ontological Coaching in action and Reflective Activities are
provided to ensure that you gain an experiential understanding
of in-depth aspects of the coaching methodology.
• References are continually made to each of the three previous
volumes of Coaching to the Human Soul and these are written
as Volume I, Volume II and Volume III.
Welcome to Volume IV of Coaching to the Human Soul:
Ontological Coaching and Deep Change.

xvi
 Introduction

Notes
1 For example, “Coaching is a profession regulated by ethical standards
reflected in the ethical codes of professional coaching institutions.” Mikhail
Klarin, “The new educational practice of coaching and the new profession of
the coach.” Russian Education and Society, Vol. 57, No. 6, June 2015, p. 422.
2 Alan Sieler, Coaching to the Human Soul: Ontological Coaching and Deep

Change. Volume I: The Linguistic Basis of Ontological Coaching, p. xi.

3 Donald Schön, Educating the Reflective Practitioner.

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