Personal, Executive & Leadership Coaching
Leadership Consulting
Transformation
"Transformation is an evolutionary embodied process which we deeply feel and experience. Once it happens, we move beyond it's intellectualization, to fully and sustainably living the change. We stand in a rooted version of our authentic SELF, with an acceptance and clarity that rises above our history.
The shift is such, that when under pressure, or very relaxed, that we do not unconsciously fall back into our old ways. Such transformation can happen many times through our lives." Lutz Otto
Integration and finding peace within
The Latin root of “integrare,” means to make whole. Integrate is defined as the process of combining two or more parts in an effective way.
"The integration, and acceptance, of our totality - our success, failure, life experiences, upbringing, intergenerational content, different facets, and the parts of us that we shut down, compare to others, or fear will exclude us from belonging - is necessary for us to feel grounded and stable in our self-worth. The more that we integrate all of who we are, the more we are able to make conscious decisions, come to live in the fullness of who we are, live with greater well-being, improve the quality of our relationships, increase our success in life and feel peace within. This is my wish for everyone I am privileged to work with." Lutz Otto
Lutz
Otto
♾️ Personal & Executive Coach
♾️ Leadership Consultant
♾️ Wilderness Guide
Making a meaningful difference in the lives, groups, and teams I serve brings me deep fulfillment. Assisting people to grow, working through significant challenges, making conscious choices, and continually evolving in becoming their best selves, is where I find my purpose.
My experience has been developed in one-on-one coaching, group work, team coaching, mentorship, change management, and leadership roles. I have over 30 years of working experience, have worked in different environments, travelled globally and worked in different countries. Prior starting my coaching practice, I gained extensive local and international executive leadership experience. Through Spirited Adventures, my parallel business, we run well-being, healing, self-development and leadership retreats in wilderness that have positively impacted, and changed, the lives of many of our clients. Explore how I work and my experience here.
Labels aside, I am multidimensional, and committed to living consciously and authentically. I have consciously grown through significant personal and professional change, as well as learned from success and failure. Love, care, focus, resilience and courage form my essence, and I accept that at times I can feel the opposite. I have invested in extensive inner work and self-development, and through my journey understand what growth, healing or transformation, uniquely expects from us. I accept that sometimes change and transitions can be downright scary. At age 13 I lost my father to cancer. It unsettled my family, and I, to the core. At 18 years old, I began a process of sense making, problem solving, and understanding how to make the best of the time we have on earth. Through this I started an exploration of psychology and spirituality; Decades later this has evolved to a deep practical understanding of a related cluster of psychology modalities, as well as leadership, systems thinking, neuroscience and well-being principles [the mind ♾️ body connection is inseverable].
Some clients are interested to learn that I am both a safari as well as a mountain guide. I have led multi-day wilderness backpacking experiences, safaris, over-landing trips, mountaineering, canyoning, rock and ice climbing trips since 1989. I founded an Honorary Ranger Initiative in the Greater Kruger National Park, served for 6 years on the executive committee of the Field Guides Association Of Southern Africa and have been a member of the Mountain Club of South Africa since 1993. In 2015 I was awarded the Order-of-the-Bateleur for my then volunteer contribution in various conservation initiatives.
When my wife and I have the opportunity, we love spending time in the bush, mountains, beautiful uninhabited beaches, and in the garden at home. I am a life long runner, both road and trail, backpacker, climber, and adventurer.
If what you read resonates, or you would like to find out more, lets set up a discovery and chemistry call, in which we can explore whether we can together create the space to meet your objectives. No strings attached. Email me here, and let's schedule a conversation.
Vulnerability
"Believing that vulnerability is unsafe is at it’s best a base defense, and in truth an illusion. Our psychological and physiological make up, our humanness, makes each of us vulnerable whether we would like to believe it or not. The vulnerability, and courage, of leaning into doing the work necessary to find and show our truth, far out weighs the life long burden of living an inauthentic life." Lutz Otto
“Lutz is direct and insightful, driven yet humble, compassionate and kind. He easily connects to people, whilst his authenticity, veracity and depth of holistic experience position him uniquely to facilitate both personal and leadership transformation work”
Methodology, Style, Experience & Confidentiality
My methodology:
Is integrative, holistic and collaborative. At a base level, my work is guided by the psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral psychological philosophies, and I practice combining leadership, psychology, coaching, mentorship, systems thinking, change management, and neuroscience and holistic well-being principles [the mind ♾️ body connection is inseverable].
Our journey together is outcome oriented and accepts that "energy flows where attention goes, form follows flow". If not coupled with focused and committed effort, the best plans, new year resolutions, and lifelong dreams, go amiss. Transformation starts unfolding, even if in a different form to what we initially thought, when our intention shifts from thinking and talking, to action.
My style:
Is supportive, gently candid, intuitive, and outcomes focused. I authentically engage, am comfortable working with "difficult stuff", steer away from the abdication of responsibility, and work best with clients who are committed to their objectives.
Is based in the acceptance that sometimes life is easy, sometimes life is hard, and that both spaces co-exist to beautifully co-create our evolving life story. I accept that sometimes transitions can be downright scary. I believe that hope and optimism empower us, and when coupled with our inner resources we are able to continually evolve, move past challenges, grow and do great things.
Accepts that within the incredible human psychology and body "nothing happens in isolation", and secondly when seeking sustained behavioral change, we often need to first explore and come to acknowledge, the root causes of our existing behavior.
My experience :
Has been developed in one-on-one coaching, group work, team coaching, outdoor coaching, mentorship, change management, and leadership roles. I have over 30 years of working experience, am a business school graduate (1993) and have completed numerous subsequent programs and certifications. I hold a number of international coaching certifications and am a certified assessor. To ensure that I practice in a way that serves you, whilst maintaining best practice for coaches and psychologists, I continue to invest in both personal therapy and supervision.
Prior starting my coaching practice, I gained extensive local and international executive leadership experience which has included the implementation of numerous change processes, major business turnaround and serving for over a decade on the SA executive team of a FTSE100 London Stock Exchange listed multi-national. Having worked in different environments, travelled globally and worked in different countries, I am comfortable in culturally diverse settings.
I have designed a number of multi-day retreats, training programs and psychodynamically oriented personal leadership programs. Through Spirited Adventures, my parallel business, we run well-being, healing, self-development and leadership retreats, held in wilderness environments, that have positively impacted, and changed, the lives of many of our clients.
Confidentiality and professional association
Confidentiality, ethical practice and psychological safety are bound into our terms of working together. I am a member of the Association for Coaching and work by the association's Global Code of Ethics.
Contact Me
If what you read resonates, you would like to find out more, or have some questions, lets set up a discovery and chemistry call, in which we can explore whether we can together create the space to meet your objectives. No strings attached.
My practice and office is based in Sandton, South Africa. I work in person, either indoors or out in nature, as well as via online video conferencing, and serve clients in South Africa, Europe, and the USA. Simply submit your form and lets we can set up a time.
