James Greengrass

James Greengrass

he/him
Coach & Consultant
Location: Edmonton, Canada
Languages: English

About James

I’m James Greengrass, PCC. My coaching is informed by my many years of experience in organizational leadership both as a senior officer in the Canadian Armed Forces and as an Executive Manager in the Alberta Public Service.

My mission as a professional coach is to equip leaders for success. I help leaders to understand themselves more fully and equip them with tools that help them to better apply the timeless principles of leadership in the gritty, complex realities of their own workplace. I have a particular interest in helping technical specialists to successfully transition into confident, capable and compassionate organizational leaders. Powerful leadership is deeply rooted in Emotional Intelligence so I frequently make use of the EQ-i2.0 or iEQ9 tool sets to help my clients increase their awareness and capacity in these important skills.

Industry Experience

  • Canadian Armed Forces/Department of National Defence
  • Alberta Public Service

Degrees & Certifications

  • B.Sc (Physics and Computer Science) – Royal Roads Military College – 1988
  • M.Sc (Defence Technology) – Cranfield University -1995
  • Joint Command and Staff Program – Canadian Forces College – 2011
  • Mentor – Active Engagement for Mindful Leadership (Center for Contemplative Dialogue) – May 2016
  • Graduate Certificate In Executive Coaching (Royal Roads University) – October 2016
  • Narrative Coaching Enhanced Practitioner (The Moment Institute) – November 2019
  • Professional Certified Coach (International Coach Federation) – May 2020
  • Advanced Coaching 612 – Group and Team Coaching (Royal Roads University) – May 2020

James's Style

Learning and growth can be daunting activities, so my coaching is built around creating a relationship in which you feel safe enough to have honest, sometimes uncomfortable, conversations about yourself and the situations you are facing. I coach the person, not the problem, drawing your attention to the assumptions, beliefs and patterns of thinking which you may not be aware you have and that are potentially contributing to the challenges that you are facing. I firmly believe in your innate ability to deal with the issues that you are confronting. I am your thinking partner in that journey with the aim of working myself out of a job.

Client Testimonials

“James helped me identify career challenges and solutions that I could apply to them. He listens intently, challenges assumptions and provides focused and straight forward feedback that leads to practical actions. The coaching program and modules that he provided set an excellent base for the conversations and were adjusted as needed for the current need and my leadership style. As a result of the coaching I received from James I find myself achieving my leadership and strategic business goals and highly recommend him to anyone else looking for an executive coach.”

— Erik Kuleba
Edmonton, AB

“James has taken me on an incredible journey of self-discovery, discovery of what leadership looks like, and how an individual can grow when challenged to look at life in new and interesting ways. James draws from his own life experiences in his varied leadership roles and applies them in meaningful ways.”

— Sheldon Hirschfeld
Prince Albert, SK

” My coaching with James has given me a heightened awareness of my leadership style, the way I approach situations and the effect that can have on others. I now have tools that help me to build a deeper understanding and better working relationships with others. The Leadership Coaching Package material was highly relevant to my reality as a leader which made it very powerful. I believe that anyone could benefit from this sort of Coaching.”

— Jocelyn Santos
YMCA Calgary, Assistant General Manager Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge

“James is a thoughtful coach who listens intently not only to what I am saying during our coaching sessions but also probes further into what hasn’t been said in support of getting to the root of issues. James’s coaching has had a positive impact for me because he asks powerful questions and challenges me in a way that has a direct and favourable result. He is very committed to our coaching relationship and to ensuring that I commit to tangible action items at every coaching session which lead to sustainable enhancements in my being and I am very grateful to him.”

— Jayne Paquin
Director of Human Resources, PenFinancial Credit Union

“I was new to coaching when I started working with James…I [am] amazed at the benefits of coaching and how applicable the sessions have consistently been to my professional and personal life…the work I have done with James has helped me to make better decisions, have better conversations with my peers and clients [and] in turn has increased the value I can provide to my clients on all levels.”

— Jody Cormier
JCormier Consulting Ltd., Edmonton, AB

“James coached me after an unexpected layoff. He showed me how to view my skills through a forward thinking lens. I was able to plan a new career trajectory with his personalized and detailed coaching sessions. I highly recommend James’ coaching and support services for those facing employment transition.”

— F. Porter
Edmonton, AB