This week's Coach in the Spotlight is Vicki Hodges. Vicki had over 20 years of experience in sales, events and as an entrepreneur, when Covid prompted her to re-evaluate her priorities. This journey led her to discovering life coaching and deciding to enrol on our Life Coaching Diploma. She has since founded her own coaching company called Pausefully, a sisterhood and community, that brings together like-minded women to make meaningful connections and prioritise their wellbeing.
Similar to many of us, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a re-evaluation of priorities in my life. With over 20 years of experience in sales, events and as an entrepreneur, I now felt the need to add more meaning and purpose into both my personal and professional ventures. During this time of self-discovery and reflection, I got guidance from a career advisor who, intriguingly, also practised counselling. It was during one of our conversations that she suggested exploring a role similar to hers. While I had thought about pursuing a career in therapy, it was through googling that I stumbled across life coaching. Until then, I had only associated coaching with sports and was unaware of its broader career perspectives.
For me, coaching has been a transformative journey that has enriched my life in so many ways. It has allowed me to develop a deeper self-awareness. I've found myself reflecting on my own values, beliefs, and aspirations, leading to greater clarity and alignment in my own life. I have a strong passion for learning, and coaching provides continuous opportunities for personal growth. Collaborating with clients and fellow coaches has broadened my perspective, enhanced my communication skills, and fostered even greater empathy and compassion within me.
Once I’d decided that coaching was the career for me, I started my extensive research into reputable companies offering comprehensive coaching training. Shockingly there were so many who offered a certificate in exchange for a few pounds and a few hours of study! I knew that I wanted to do it properly and with a company who had a strong reputation in the coaching world. The Coaching Academy ticked a lot of boxes for me and I loved the flexibility to complete the training at my own pace, the high quality of the resources and there was a strong element of group learning. Collaboration is key for me and I'm grateful for the friendships I've formed during the training. The supportive community of like-minded individuals has been invaluable - I’ve made some friends for life.
The great thing about the training was that I could access the online webinars, mentor sessions and peer to peer at times that worked around my schedule. If I couldn’t do weekday training I knew I had the option to attend the evening or weekend ones. The flexibility was great to fit around my part time work and family life. I think it was a combination of the peer to peer group support sessions and the Facebook group. Both enabled me to ask questions and get answers when I felt stuck or needed help. It’s so good to hear everyone else’s views and take on coaching because we can all learn from each other's experiences and top tips.
The most rewarding part of my coaching journey is undoubtedly the friendships and connections I’ve made with others in The Coaching Academy's community. Knowing that I could pick up the phone or jump on a zoom call to share experiences, challenges, and celebrate wins was not only such an important part of my personal development as a coach but also been a big inspiration and encouragement on my journey.
I have founded a company called Pausefully. It’s a sisterhood, a community, that brings together like-minded women to make meaningful connections and prioritise their wellbeing. I run 1:1 coaching sessions, group coaching, educational workshops and in-person events. Additionally, I provide bespoke 1:1 coaching services for corporate clients. My inspiration for Pausefully was from my own transformative journey in coaching and the profound impact of peer-to-peer support. I wanted to provide other women with the opportunity to experience the empowering effects of coaching, deepen their connection to themselves and others, and create a strong sense of community.
For me, the power of silence remains the most effective tool. Learning how to effectively facilitate this in coaching sessions enables a coach to allow clients the space for self-reflection and to formulate their own thoughts in response to questions asked, allows them to gain the most from a session.
It always puts a huge smile on my face when a client gives me feedback on the transformational effect that coaching has had on their lives. Being told that you have held a safe space for them to explore their thoughts and this then led to them gaining clarity to move forward with confidence is something that I find extremely rewarding and fulfilling.
I'm really interested in how coaching connects with neuroscience. It's fascinating to explore how our brains work and how we can use that understanding to improve coaching techniques. By integrating neuroscience into coaching practices, we can create more effective interventions that suit each person's unique brain patterns, promoting lasting growth and behaviour change. This exploration not only enhances coaching effectiveness but also helps everyone involved develop a deeper understanding of themselves, empowering them to reach their goals and tap into their full potential.
If you have the calling, or feel drawn to coaching, definitely explore this! The great thing about The Coaching Academy is that you can pop on a call with them, and they are more than happy to answer any questions you have plus you can attend one of the free 'Introduction to Life Coaching' webinars to see if coaching is the right fit for you. My advice would be to speak to other coaches who are a various stages of training or their career, learn about niches and find what works best for you.
Thank you Vicki for sharing your inspirational coaching journey with us!
The Coaching Academy was established in 1999, and is now the world's largest coaching school.
In that time we have trained over 14,000 people to become life coaches.
We are accredited by the International Coach Federation and the Association for Coaching, and we're rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
