Are you a professional coach?

Ann James

Coaching in English

1500+ hours of coaching experience

Executive Coach · Leadership Coach · Team Coach · Career Coach · Performance Coach · Coach Supervisor · Coach Mentor

Reading, Henley-on-Thames, UK Wide

United Kingdom

Send a message
Overview
About me Credentials Reviews
Send a message
About me

Executive Coach, Reading, Henley-on-Thames, UK Wide


Hello.

You're probably reading this because you're thinking about getting a coach.

I have had several coaches. Some came through word of mouth, some through searches, some were 'given' to me. I liked some of them; others.. well, let's say we wouldn't naturally become friends. But I did trust them all. I trusted them to listen to me, to stretch me and sometimes to push me that bit further than I thought I could go. I trusted them to know their stuff, to be ethically beyond question, and to get me to do some heavy lifting with a light touch.

It's been my experience that coaching works best where the relationship is a bit 'edgy' - where we resist the seductive pull of working with people 'just like us'; where instead we seek out those who can take us usefully beyond ourselves.

These principles guide all my work.

I have been coaching, supervising and developing coaches for around 20 years and running my business for close to 30.

I have been coach to over 1,200 people; trainer and mentor to over 500 coaches / individuals / teams / organisations wanting to bring coaching skills into the workplace; and supervisor to 100+ experienced coaches. I have brought together coaches and clients by exploring 'best fit' for the work to be done.

Much of my work is through the world-class Henley Business School (University of Reading), where I am Executive Fellow, Visiting Faculty Member, and Lead Tutor on the triple-accredited Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching / MSc in Coaching for Behavioural Change.

I have been one of Henley’s core team of coaches for close to 20 years. Henley attracts leaders from diverse sectors, functions and levels of seniority. I have coached individuals across its range of MBA, Leadership and Executive Development Programmes, and regularly contribute to the design and delivery of open and in-house programmes.

I have a private coaching, personal development and supervision practice, through which I work with charities, businesses and individuals. A recent initiative is a programme of personal development coaching with elite athletes through the world-renowned Leander Club in Henley on Thames.

I routinely integrate AI tools into my coaching, where clients wish to experiment with working in this way.

For the last ten years, I have hosted my Sea Change ® Residential Hideaways: coaching-based events for small groups of individuals seeking some time out to drop their shoulders and take stock, and supervision-based excursions for established coaches.

FEELING SPOILED FOR CHOICE? Let me know if you'd like a 30-MINUTE NO-FEE SESSION to explore 'HOW DO I CHOOSE THE BEST COACH FOR ME?"

(No expectation you'll choose me. Promise.)
Credentials
Professional body membership

International Coach Federation

Level of membership/accreditation

ICF - Professional Certified Coach

Qualifications

• MSc Coaching & Behavioural Change (Distinction)• MA Education • Professional Certified Coach (PCC), International Coach Federation• Professional Certificate in Coaching• Professional Certificate in Coaching Supervision• Certified NLP Practitioner• Organisational Member, Association for Coaching• Member, Henley Centre for Coaching • Accredited / trained to work with Systemic Constellations, Time to Think™, and Coaching Signatures™• ‘On the side’: Accredited British Rowing Indoor Rowing Coach; qualified Premier Gym Instructor; qualified Red Cross Workplace First Aider, certified Chopra Health™ Instructor

Reviews
Write a review

Ann was initially my tutor in my Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching (PCEC) at the Henley Business School late in 2021 and into 2022. She was a phenomenal listener and teacher. So much so, in fact, that on graduating I (with some other colleagues) asked her to be our small group supervisor, a relationship that continues to this day. In addition to this formal relationship, I also regularly reach out to Ann for advice and insight. And informally I have no doubt that she coaches me on occasion. Ann is intuitive and a great listener. She creates an open and safe space, in coaching and in supervision, that permits sharing in ways and to degrees that I didn’t realise I had the capacity for, allowing me to discover unexpected insights. I always come away from engagements with her with new avenues to consider and pursue to address my questions and challenges. I can’t recommend her more highly.

05/02/2025

I used Ann as an executive coach a few years previously. I was specifically looking to work on my 'next steps' with regards to my career, having been in my existing role for several years, and feeling like the time was right for a change. After working through with Ann what was important to me, my purpose, and what I needed from my next role, very successfully, I decided to leave for another role at a different firm. I then had a number of subsequent sessions with Ann during my departure and start of my new role, to work through and get support on that transition. I have never 'actively' managed my transition from one role to the next quite so well, staying in such a good place, as I did when working with Ann. Her coaching was invaluable. And really helped me appreciate that endings and beginnings are significant and need to be done well. I had been with my last firm for 7 years, so it was a big decision to take to leave. I found Ann extremely kind, gentle and empathetic in her approach, although also firm and really helped hold me to account for the things I wanted to do. She helps provide enormous clarity which is what I am always seeking for. Her systemic approach which looks at things holistically also really worked for me. I am now several years into a new role but back coaching with Ann again to help stay aligned to my values, goals, and true to my overall sense of self. I have tried other coaches but find no one yet compares to the value I get from a single session with her. P. R.

05/02/2025
Specialist areas
Difficult Conversations Influencing Skills Leadership Managing Emotions Personal Impact Resilience Supervision: 1-2-1 Supervision: Group Time Management Transition
Send a message

    Your name*

    Your email address*

    Your phone number*

    Message

    How can you improve your Leadership Development Programme?

    Find out by taking this quick audit x