Resources Announcements

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The Ontological Coaching and Leadership in Action course is produced by the Ontological Coaching Institute and led by expert Ontological Coaches Alan Sieler & Karen White. This course teaches the same basic ontological concepts that were taught in EFL's Stage 1, so this is a good option for people new to ontology and people looking to dive back into the work & deepen their understanding. The next online workshop for North America is Oct. 22-Nov 1, 2023 (6 half days during this time period).

The Foundation Course is a virtual, 3-day course that teaches introductory ontological distinctions in language, emotions & moods, and body. It is led by Julio Ollala (an early student of Fernando Flores, who founded the field of Ontological Design) and Veronica Olalla Love.

The Enneagram is a psycho-spiritual personality system that examines why we do what we do. Learn more here. Sandra Smith is an Enneagram teacher & EFL has hosted her workshops in the past. (Like Ontology, the Enneagram also draws from Humberto Maturana's work in the Biology of Cognition.) Through Alchemy Works, Sandra offers an introductory "Nine Panels" workshop & other advanced courses (both online & in person). Sandra will consider doing workshops in Louisiana if there is sufficient interest.

Chuck Smith (the founder of EFL) will offer online learning sessions, one evening per month, on 6 topics: Managing Moods, Listening, Relationships, Adulthood/Transcendence, the Wheel of life, & Conversations for Action. Each separate month/topic will cost $100, which includes an online class (approx. 3 hours) plus one half hour of individual coaching outside of class. Discounts are available for those who commit to all 6 learning sessions. Email Julie Gammack for more information.

The Leadership Embodiment courses help participants recognize their somatic patterns that arise in intense situations. Participants learn how to center themselves into more creative, compassionate, and skillful states from which they can be inclusive in difficult situations, listen without taking things personally, and speak up for what they believe in despite resistance. See the Online Event Calendar for the North America region.

Through Empowering Potential, Denise Palmisano (a former EFL coach) offers courses with an ontological lens, including: Mission & Mindset Master Class, Female & Fabulous, Relationships Bootcamp, Reinventing Joy in Retirement, & others. From Denise: "In times of transition, change, or by choice, I teach, mentor, and coach individuals & groups to clarify their desired future outcomes and to create a plan of mindsets, habits, and structures that are aligned with achieving those outcomes."

Teen Empower (led by coach Taryn Couvillion) is an experiential, one-day workshop for youth ages 12-17. The workshop covers ontological topics such as observing ourselves as observers, assessments v. assertions, stories, moods & emotions, and goals. There are currently no workshops on the calendar, but if enough community members express interest, Taryn will consider adding a workshop date. Email Taryn Couvillion for more information.

Parents might consider contacting the various resources that are included in the "Workshops for All" section (above) to inquire whether mature teens ages 16+ might be permitted to participate.

This Article suggests best practices for parents in communicating with their children, from an ontological perspective.

For those that have completed the "Ontological Coaching and Leadership in Action" course (above), the Ontological Coaching Institute  offers an 18-month, online coach training program. Participants are trained as Ontological Coaches and are eligible to become ICF certified upon completing the course & some coaching hours. The next North American course (hybrid in-person & online) will begin in November 2024 & will be co-hosted by the Bhavana Learning Group.

For those who have completed the 18-month "Certified Ontological Coaching & Leadership Program" (directly above), the Ontological Coaching Institute offers various graduate courses for Ontological Coaches, including Conversational Technology For Business Improvement, Somatic Learning and Ontological Coaching, and others.

The Coaching for Personal & Professional Mastery Program is an 8-month, virtual course that teaches ontological distinctions and the core competencies of coaching. This course is also ICF accredited, which allows for participants to become eligible for ICF certification. The course is led by Julio Ollala (an early student of Fernando Flores, the founder of Ontological Design) and Veronica Olalla Love. 

This 7-month course, led by Karen White, is for those who are already certified by the ICF as Professional Certified Coaches and are seeking their Master Certified Coach (MCC) credential. The MCC Coach Development Program teaches ontological concepts that provide coaches with new and profound ways to observe (and coach to) language, emotions, and physiology. To find out when this course will be available, use the "Contact Us" button on the website.

The Embodied Facilitator Certificate Training is a course for deepening your own embodiment and learning to guide others as an embodiment coach. Mark Walsh, the founder and lead trainer, is an author and coach in the field of Embodiment. Stuart Heller, who has offered body work courses for EFL in the past, sometimes serves as a guest coach.

Heart of the Matter Counseling and Coaching was founded by Dana Papania, LCSW. Dana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Ontological Coach who offers therapy with an ontological coaching lens, both in person (in New Roads, Louisiana) and online.

Marie Kimball is an Ontological Coach and the founder of Marie Kimball Creative. From Marie: "I offer personal coaching and virtual workshops for creatives (chefs, artists, writers, parents, entrepreneurs, designers, college students, etc.) who are feeling stuck in their creative practice and/or life in general and are ready to start taking action to shift their stuck. Stop waiting for someone else to make it happen. Your time is now."

Mirais is an Ontological Coach & Consultant who coaches organizational leaders and executives, entrepreneurs, and people from all walks of life. Mirais is the current owner of EFL and served as a Stage 1 & RP trainer for EFL from 2013-2019. Her coaching is based in Ontological Design as well as the Enneagram personality system. All coaching is provided via Zoom. Email Mirais for more information.

The Ontological Coaching Institute offers one-on-one coaching and Executive Coaching with Ontological Coaches. Through the coaching relationship, leaders and managers can learn to be more creative and innovative, deal successfully with change, develop talent and leadership capacity in others, facilitate the development of high performance teams, and enable effective cultural transformation within their organizations.

The Human Connection offers one-on-one coaching, Executive Coaching, and Leadership Development training with Ontological Coaches. Through coaching, The Human Connection helps people uncover their perceptions and attitudes that get in the way of making progress toward their goals and leading a more fulfilled life. The company also help teams learn to maximize their ability, deal with complex challenges, and increase their professional ability and performance.

Elizabeth Hebert is an Ontological Coach, a yoga teacher, and the founder of S.O.A.R. From Elizabeth: "I approach coaching in the same way I navigate my own life - creating an integrative space blending Western and Eastern practices, focusing on the body via a holistic approach to wellbeing, and the philosophical and practical applications of ontology. All in an effort to support you to become a better observer of yourself so that you can create the life you choose, your own masterpiece."

Through the Ontological Coaching Institute, Alan Sieler offers ontologically-based business consulting and team trainings to help organizations focus on the invisible and unacknowledged business processes that drive business improvement and cultural transformation and that reduce conversational waste.

Through Alchemy Works, Sandra Smith offers Enneagram Staff Trainings & Enneagram Leadership Team Trainings. Her trainings are designed to improve workplace effectiveness by helping teams to expand their perspectives, enhance communication, and develop strategies for moving beyond limiting patterns.

Malcolm Brignac is an EOS Coach. He helps people get what they want from their businesses by providing a complete system with simple tools to assist leadership teams in developing their organization’s Vision, Traction (accountability and discipline), and Healthiness (cohesiveness). 

meta3 Coaching, founded by Ontological Coaches Jim Theis & Monica Neal, provides coaching for organizations and teams, with a specialty in healthcare organizations. meta3 Coaching brings workshops into businesses, with options for a 2.5-day workshop, several half-day workshops, and mini courses in a lunch-and-learn style.

Amy Horn (of Sigma Leadership Solutions) is an Ontological Coach and Enneagram Facilitator. Her workshop utilizes the Integrative Enneagram framework to develop both the individual and the team by identifying strengths, areas of development, and exploring individual impact on team dynamics. The workshop is designed to increase self awareness, facilitate a deeper understanding of other team members, and elevate overall team performance. Email Amy for more information.

Mark Robertson is an ontological coach who offers individual Executive Coaching, group coaching for teams, and custom workshops for teams. His workshops last anywhere from 2 hours to 3 days and cover topics such as: Powerful Leadership, Capacity Management, Cultures of Commitment & Accountability, Restoring & Building Trust in Teams, and Impeccable Coordination of Action.

Through Northstar Coaching Systems, coach Cami Miller offers Executive Coaching & Corporate Trainings with an ontological lens. Cami customizes her corporate trainings & retreats to fit the needs of each business, and she can deliver programs as short as one hour or as long as two days. 

Through Strategic Business Advisors, coach and CPA Cary Prejean offers coaching for CFOs, entrepreneurs, and companies through an ontological lens. Cary's Well-Oiled Machine process transforms businesses into highly functional and effective organizations requiring much less time and involvement by the owner.

Oasis People & Culture is an Australia-based consulting firm that offers Learning & Development Workshops and Executive Coaching within businesses, through the lens of ontology, the Enneagram, and other modalities. They work with organizations to improve performance by enhancing relational health and maturity, improving conflict resolution, and developing leaders. Services can be offered online.

Walking Your Talk offers trainings for teams (and coaches who work with teams) to assist team members in gaining clarity, improving conversations, and tackling issues. (This organization was founded by Stuart Heller, who has offered body work courses for EFL in the past.)

Chalmers Brothers, an Executive Coach, offers free 45-90 minute virtual programs on leadership & team development. These programs address various ontological topics, including conversational skills, observing yourself as an observer, being a learner, listening, moods, managing commitments, assessments & assertions, and others.

Join the EFL Alumni group on Facebook to connect with others who are interested in ontological work and see what community learning and events might be available.

Alan Sieler, one of the world's foremost experts in Ontological Coaching, has written 4 books in the "Coaching to the Human Soul" series, which help readers use the power of Ontological Design to create successful individual lives & well-functioning families, communities, and organizations. They also be used as textbooks for Ontological Coaches. There is an Order Form under the "Books" heading of the Ontological Coaching Institute page. Also check Amazon and other online retailers.

Chalmers Brothers is an Executive Coach and facilitator who was engaged with the EFL community in the past. (In fact, EFL gets a special thanks in the acknowledgments section of this book!) Chalmers's book, "Language and the Pursuit of Happiness," discusses many of the ontological concepts that were featured in EFL's Stage 1, including language, learning, listening, observing yourself as an observer, moods and emotions, and others.

In "Language and the Pursuit of Leadership Excellence," Chalmers Brothers & Vinay Kumar (both former EFL participants) apply ontological concepts to the business world and offer practical tools for improving workplace relationships, shaping workplace culture, and driving organizational results.

"Biology of Cognition," a field of study that was founded by Humberto Maturana, forms part of the basis of Ontological Design. In "The Tree of Knowledge," Maturana & Varela explore the biological roots of human understanding, including the ways that human beings generate their own worlds. The book makes biology accessible to all readers through using illustrations and plain language.

The Ontological Coaching Institute's Resources Page and Articles Page provide a vast array of resources discussing various topics in Ontological Design, such as coaching, interpersonal relationships, and organizational transformation. The site features audio and video recordings, podcast episodes, blog articles, and case studies.

In this Podcast, Enneagram Teachers Sandra Smith & Chris Copeland use personal narratives to offer a deep dive into the the Enneagram as a tool for personal and spiritual growth. The six seasons of the podcast cover the following topics: Habits & Patterns of Each Type; Spiritual Dimensions of the Enneagram; Enneagram Types in Relationship; Enneagram, Race, & Culture; Elder Wisdom; and The Enneagram & Leadership. A Companion Book is also available to accompany the podcast.

The Cultivating Life-Giving Leadership podcast series, by Oasis People & Culture, features conversations with guests who are business leaders. Each guest is invited to "listen to their inner teacher" through rich, reflective coaching conversations about their past, present, and future leadership journey. The goal is for leaders to gain renewed clarity, courage, commitment, and compassion to offer their leadership to the places they feel called.

In this Coaching Rising Podcast, Alan Sieler discusses how we can change our assessments and beliefs, create new ones that work better for us, and integrate those new beliefs into our bodies.

In this Podcast on the Amiel Show, Alan Sieler discusses the six basic moods of life and how leaders can manage their moods to become more effective.

The Strategic Business Advisor Forum has two videos available, which feature round table discussions with Ontological Coaches. One from April 2022 features Mike Papania (a former coach with EFL), Chalmers Brothers, Mark Robertson, and Cary Prejean discussing the discipline of Ontological Design. Another from May 2022 features Mike Papania, Mark Robertson, and Cary Prejean discussing concepts about trust and other topics.

Monica Neal & Jim Theis, of meta3 Coaching, coauthored this Article that answers the question: "How does managing promises help organizations improve and prosper?"

Karen White (of The Human Connection) and Paul Abrams authored this Article that discusses how we can use our bodies as a fundamental source of learning and wisdom.

This Article by Clint Vawser of Oasis People and Culture explores how jumping to conclusions, being trapped in the judgments of others, the mood of resignation, lack of patience, & cognitive blindness get in the way of our learning.