Coaching is a term that was coined by Dr. Fernando Flores in late 1980’s. Dr. Fernando Flores (FF) in a three year program  called Ontological Design and Construction (ODC) basically ventured into introducing a new concept of communication and learning. Based upon the principle that communication and learning is not about gathering information or information transfer from one entity to another he showed how the foundations and principle of communication, learning, and teaching in the 20th century will be obsolete in the 21st century. His claimed as human beings we live in language, emotion, and body at the same time and we must be concerned with learning in all the three domains.  His claim was that communication and  learning must ultimately become concerned with what is action or a new actions that a person can take as result of his learning. Learning for the sake of learning is a pointless activity. Learning must be about becoming more effective in action, coordination of actions and therefore adopting new practices that will address what a person or a team of people cares to achieve.

FF, in a theists which was written late 1970’s, introduced a ground breaking notion that action is a language based phenomenon. In his book that was co-authored with Terrie Windegrad Flores explained this notion deeper” see Language Below this page”. Flores identified five Language actions acts. These distinction are Promise, Request, Deceleration, assertions and assessment. Which are widely used to teach and coach as an Ontological coaches do. Ontological Coaching is not advice giving, therapy, or counseling. Rather one important aspect of Ontological coaching is for the coachee to become aware of what and how these distinctions are being used in everyday life. Once these principles become embodied and there is a clear shift in listening the coachee will see and therefore act differently in the world. There will be an easier sense of blending, impact, and productivity in their lives and in relation to others. For further research we recommend the following books and article.

* Understanding Computers and Cognition By Terry Windegrad and Fernando Flores.

* Coaching To Human Soul by Alen Siele.

* Article Published by WWW.CQM.COM titled”Self Generated Competitive innovation with Language Action Approach by Rober Dunham, Date of release Fall 1997.

* Leadership DOJO by Richard Strozzi-Heckler.

It is important to remember these are only a few publications that we are recommending as further reading for people who are interested to explore more. There are numerous material in the form of article and books that have been published or are in process of being published on the topic of Ontological Designing, Reconstruction and Coaching.

There is really no final answer for the question of how Ontological Coaching works when an ontological coach engages his coachee or team into conversations for the sake of new learning and developing new practices that will better address’s their concern and objectives. Ontological coaching addresses learning in the three domains of Body, Language, and Emotions. the sessions with the coach can either be in person or via telephone. Most in person sessions will be to coach for developing new somatic practices and the phone conversations will be to develop new thinking. Of course this is only one interpretation and different coaches have different strategies when coaching. Ultimately the best way to find out is to sign up and have a session with a coach. Remember you can read all you can about ridding a bike but you will never learn how to ride a bike until you get on one and start to pedal.