My coaching is platformed on the following frameworks, methodologies, and authors.

Neil Bierbaum | Master Certified Coach (MCC) | MPhil Leadership Coaching (cum laude) | 10,000+ Coaching Hours | Johannesburg, South Africa & Global

If you’re evaluating executive coaches or leadership programs — for yourself or your organisation — this page explains the theoretical platform that underpins Neil Bierbaum’s work.

My coaching draws on the following theoretical paradigms:

LINGUISTIC ONTOLOGY
Linguistic ontology is the personal development and transformational methodology that provided the foundation and was the springboard for modern coaching. It found early expression in Werner Erhard’s large group awareness trainings (“est” for Erhard Seminar Trainings) in California in the 1970s. Erhard worked closely with linguists John Searle and Humberto Maturana, and professors of philosophy Hubert Dreyfus and Michael Zimmerman. He also partnered with Fernando Flores. est later became the Landmark Forum. I learned the linguistic ontology framework through an intensive one-year, four-module ICF-accredited coach training program. I completed the coaching school’s train-the-trainer program and became a senior trainer, completing 2,500 hours of training time over four years (proving to myself the adage that you only really learn something when you teach it.) Key references: • Searle, J. R. (1977). Speech acts: An essay in the philosophy of language. Cambridge University Press. • Sieler, A. (2007). Coaching to the human soul: Ontological coaching and deep change (Vol. 1). Newfield. • Flores, F. (2012). Conversations for action and collected essays: Instilling a culture of commitment in working relationships. Create Space Independent Publishing Platform.

VIPASSANA
An ancient wisdom-based and science-proven meditation practice that underpins modern mindfulness. Key reference: • Goleman, D. & Davidson, R.J. (2017). The science of meditation: How to change your brain, mind and body. Penguin Life.

NEUROSCIENCE
Evidence-based brain measurement science that proves (and disproves) many of the claims made by learning modalities, and which makes some contributions of its own. Key reference: Kandel, E., et al. (2021). Principles of Neuroscience (6th Ed.). McGraw-Hill.

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY (CBT)
Evidence-based processes for shifting thought and behaviour and creating a reinforcement loop. Key references: • Barlow, D. (2008). Clinical handbook of psychological disorders: A step-by-step treatment manual. The Guilford Press. • Barlow, D. et al. (2011). Unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders. Oxford University Press.

ADULT LEARNING THEORY
The andragogical learning process adopted by adults, as expounded by Malcolm Knowles and evolved by David Kolb into the experiential learning cycle. Key references: • Knowles, M. (1980). The modern practice of adult education: From pedagogy to andragogy. Prentice-Hall / Cambridge. • Kolb, D. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Prentice-Hall.

THE SCIENCE OF OPTIMAL EXPERIENCE (THE FLOW STATE)
The science of the state of flow or optimal experience. Key reference: • Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper & Row.

INTENTIONAL CHANGE THEORY
A neuroscience-based approach to leveraging positive emotional attractors by triggering the parasympathetic nervous system (thrive response) instead of the sympathetic nervous system (stress response). Key reference: • Boyatzis, R. (2024) The science of change. Oxford University Press.

THE COACHING BEHAVIOURS MODEL
A model for intra-session coaching behaviours for coaches, developed by Erik de Haan & Viktor Nilsson and building on John Heron’s six categories of supportive interventions. This model provides evidence and guidance for incorporating a more directive approach when coaching.
Key references: • Heron, J. (2001). Helping the client (5^th ed.). Sage Publications. • de Haan, E., & Nilsson, V. O. (2017). Evaluating coaching behavior in managers, consultants, and coaches: A model, questionnaire, and initial findings. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 69(4), 315–333. DOI

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING
Understanding people’s defensive routines, the importance of personal mastery for leadership and how to develop colleagueship to promote psychological safety in teams. Teams are recognised as the primary unit of learning in organizations.
Key reference: • Senge, P.M. (1990). The fifth discipline: The art & practice of the learning organization. Random House.

THINKING ENVIRONMENT
The 10 components for a thinking environment with quality of attention and listening at its core. Key reference: • Kline, N. (1999). Time to think: Listening to ignite the human mind. Cassell.

CONVERSATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Applying neuroscience to conversations to increase trust and improve creativity and collaboration.
Key reference: • Glaser, Judith E. (2014). Conversational intelligence. Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.

EMERGENT ORDER THINKING
Surrendering control and process-oriented leadership and management to make way for an emergence approach (i.e. presencing oneself and others to listen for what is emerging, what wants to happen. Key reference: • Scharmer, C. O. (2007). Theory U: Leading from the future as it emerges: The social technology of presencing. Society for Organizational Learning.

ENNEAGRAM
A personality assessment tool that links leadership and work styles to a primary focus of attention and related defence mechanism (eg. a primary focus on quality to avoid criticism). Useful for self-management and team relations. Used in conjunction with mindfulness and CBT to develop awareness and ability to self-manage with a view to treating situations on their own merit instead of reacting to every situation based on personal concerns. Key reference: • Chestnut, B. (2013). The complete enneagram: 27 paths to greater self-knowledge. She Writes Press.

It’s better to read one book a hundred times than a hundred books once. — Japanese proverb.

Listed below are authors whose works I have read “a hundred times” — meaning I have read to understand, applied and tested what I learned, returned and re-read, analysed by making summaries, and generally turned their work inside out until I could speak knowledgeably about them in context.  Their ideas now form an integral part of my knowledge and reference framework.

CARL JUNG
A holistic, teleological approach to personal development. Key reference: • Jung, C.G. & von Franz, M-L. (Eds.) (1964). Man and his symbols. Picador.

DEBASHIS CHATTERJEE
International management trainer who connects contemporary scientific knowledge to classical spiritual wisdom and self-mastery for the leadership context. Key reference: • Chatterjee, D. (1998). Leading consciously: A pilgrimage toward self-mastery. Butterworth-Heinemann.

DON MIGUEL RUIZ
A framework for the nature of ego and a code of conduct that originates in the Toltec wisdom tradition and which aligns with the frameworks presented by linguistic ontology. Key references: • Ruiz, D. M. (1997). The four agreements: A practical guide to personal freedom. Amber-Allen Publishing. • Ruiz, D. M., & Mills, J. (2004). The voice of knowledge: A practical guide to inner peace (A Toltec Wisdom Book). Amber-Allen Publishing.

E.F. SCHUMACHER
Economist who provided a framework (The Four Fields of Knowledge) for understanding self and others; and who argued for human-scale, decentralised and appropriate technologies. Key references: •  Schumacher, E. F. (1977). A guide for the perplexed. Jonathan Cape. • Schumacher, E. F. (1973). Small is beautiful: Economics as if people mattered. Blond & Briggs.

ECKHART TOLLE
Presence, equanimity and ego management. Key references: • Tolle, E. (1999). The power of now: A guide to spiritual enlightenment. New World Library. • Tolle, E. (2005). A new earth: Awakening to your life’s purpose. Penguin.

JAMES HOLLIS
Jungian analyst and author. Key references: • Hollis, J. (1993). The middle passage: From misery to meaning in midlife. Inner City Books. • Hollis, J. (1998). The Eden project: In search of the magical other (A Jungian perspective on relationship). Inner City Books. • Hollis, J. (1994). Under Saturn’s shadow: The wounding and healing of men. Inner City Books. • Hollis, J. (2001). Creating a life: Finding your individual path. Inner City Books.

JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI
Indian spiritual figure, speaker, and writer. Key reference: • Krishnamurti, J. (1954). The first and last freedom. Victor Gollancz Ltd.

MICHAEL SINGER
Surrendering personal preference in favour of emergence. Key references: • Singer, Michael A. (2015). The Surrender Experiement: My journey into life’s perfection. Harmony Books.  Publications. • Singer, Michael A. (2007). The Untethered Soul: The journey beyond yourself. New Harbinger Publications.

MICHAEL GURIAN
Men’s development through a neurobiological lens. Key reference: • Gurian, M. (2003). What could he be thinking? St Martins.

PETER HAWKINS
A systems approach to organizational and team coaching. Key reference: • Hawkins, P., & Turner, E. (2019). Systemic coaching: Delivering value beyond the individual (1st ed.). Routledge. DOI

ROBERT BLY
Men’s development through a mythopoetic lens. Key reference: • Bly, R. (1990). Iron John: A book about men. Addison-Wesley.

ROBERT REICH
Former US Secretary of Labor, author and political activist who lobbies for responsible capitalism. Key reference: • Reich, R. B. (2015). Saving capitalism: For the many, not the few. Alfred A. Knopf.