Ian James

I have thirty years’ experience working in telecommunications and IT. I am Programme Director for ICT at GIBS business school and run my own company, Clearsight, which offers consulting, training and coaching services.

I am a qualified Practitioner Coach and focus on individual career-coaching and team facilitation. I have coached individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and nationalities, including senior management, consultants and entrepreneurs, as well as young people looking to boost their careers. I believe that my own experience of making changes in my life allows me to help others to discover their true vocation.

I am British but left the UK in 1996. I lived in Stockholm, Sweden for seven years and moved to Johannesburg in 2004 where I now live with my wife, son and stepson.

Why choose me as your coach?

Are you looking to make a fundamental change in your career but are not sure what direction to take, or how to go about making the change? Maybe you are comfortable with your current situation but sometimes wonder if there isn’t more to life. You remain unsatisfied, unfulfilled. Conversely, you might have started in a new role or have just received a promotion and want to make sure that you will hit the ground running. Whatever your situation, you probably feel that you have so much more to give, and think that, given the opportunity, you could accomplish almost anything.

I coach people who are looking to redefine their career. My belief is that each one of us possesses unique talents but we rarely get the opportunity to use these at work, or elsewhere in our lives. In fact, often we don’t even know what our true talents are. The result is that we end up in ‘ok’ jobs in which we may feel secure, but which don’t supply that spark of energy that really motivates us.

Did you know that you have all the resources you will ever need to achieve your full potential? Why not tap into your natural talents and define the work you were born to do. Call me to experience how!

Qualifications and membership

• Diploma in Practitioner Coaching, South Africa, 2010
• MSc. Engineering Business Management, UK, 1994
• BSc. (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering. UK, 1981
• Member of Comensa – Coaching and Mentors of South Africa
  
  

Testimonials

“Ian, I have found that you as a coach are very engaging and easy to speak to, without making me feel like I am being judged and I can discuss whatever feelings/thoughts are in my mind and be relaxed in doing so. You are very good at being in the moment with me while still moving in the direction desired. I also found that your easy-going nature allowed me to be comfortable to speak openly about what comes to mind while keeping the direction of conversation in line with the goals/objectives that we set out in the beginning of the sessions quite powerful. Your ability to engage me and allow me to take risks by delving deep but not feeling ashamed or concerned of the outcome was very refreshing. Your sharing of the quadrant model has also been very helpful in constant self-diagnoses. I feel that I have progressed/developed and have also put in place within myself and my team some of the ideas that came about during our sessions.”
– Divisional Manager, Foschini Group

The coaching started with an analysis of my overall values and then dug deeper to my specific values and the impacts on cultural norms. On a professional level I realised why I was so focussed on success, in many cases at the detriment of my personal life and health. Time was also spent exploring my true professional goals and setting timelines for achieving these and understanding the dynamics, both human and resource based, that would drive my success. Ian was great in helping me discover much of the path on my own, while allowing me the opportunity to define the path and outcomes upfront. He took into account my personality and temperament and set a session plan to suit my lifestyle and travel schedule. He was accommodating, but professional and caring in a very genuine way.
– Thabiet Allie, Digital Media Consultant