Breaking Free from Limiting Beliefs: Leadership & Mindset with Vicky Henderson

Hey there, MSK Momentum crew! Welcome back to your weekly dose of career-boosting insights. 🚀

I've got something special lined up for you this week. I attended a leadership conference towards the end of last year, and there was a fantastic speaker who absolutely captivated the room - Vicky Henderson. She's a powerhouse in leadership and mindset coaching and I knew I had to share her wisdom with you all.

I managed to sit down with Vicky for a one-on-one chat and let me tell you, it was gold. We dove into everything from conquering self-doubt to handling high-pressure situations like a pro. We also explored how building strong relationships can transform your team dynamics.

Whether you're leading your first project, dreaming of opening your own clinic or simply aiming to level up your personal and professional game, this conversation is packed with actionable advice.

As someone relatively new to the professional world, I know how challenging it can be to navigate career growth and leadership. That's why I'm excited to share these insights with you - they're practical, relatable and genuinely helpful.

So, grab your favourite drink, find a comfy spot and let's dive into this wealth of knowledge together. Trust me, you won't want to miss this one!

Q: Vicky, can you share a bit about yourself and what you do?

Vicky: Sure! So, I am a leadership and mindset coach. I have worked in education for 25 years and have worked with young people throughout my career. I love it. It’s really fulfilling and I did a lot of leadership development and training in education.

I had a personal challenge about six years ago where I became very unwell. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and I was told that it was lifelong and that I had to learn to live with it. That just wasn’t an option for me. I started researching and understanding the power of mindset, emotional regulation and how our thoughts impact our emotions, which in turn impact our physical body.

Through that journey, I came across coaching. I learned so much about the way that we can rewire our brain, change our patterns and get rid of limiting beliefs. A year later, I was completely pain-free and have been ever since. That was the start of my journey into coaching, as I was so fascinated by how our minds work.

Now I work with business leaders, executives and professionals, helping them understand how their mindset impacts their leadership, their resilience and their performance.

Q: How important is mindset, and how does it influence our ability to achieve personal and professional goals?

Vicky: Mindset is everything. It is the lens through which we see the world and it affects how we perceive and react to situations. If you believe something isn’t possible, then you won’t take action towards it. But if you believe it is possible, then you will naturally look for opportunities to make it happen.

When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I could have accepted it and lived with it but I decided that wasn’t my reality. By changing my thought processes, my emotions changed, my body changed and my entire life changed. That’s the power of mindset.

It’s the same in leadership or any profession. If you think, “I’m not good enough” or “I’m not capable of leading a team,” then you will show up in a way that reflects that. But, if you work on those beliefs and reframe your thinking, your actions change and so do your results.

Q: How would you define emotional intelligence (EQ)?

Vicky: I would define emotional intelligence as a combination of four key areas:

1️⃣ Self-awareness – Knowing what you are feeling and how it affects you.

2️⃣ Self-regulation – The ability to manage your emotions and not let them control your behaviour.

3️⃣ Social awareness – Understanding what others are feeling and why.

4️⃣ Relationship management – Using that awareness to communicate effectively and build strong relationships.

A leader with high emotional intelligence can recognise when they’re feeling stressed or frustrated and regulate their emotions before they react. They also pick up on what their team is experiencing and respond in a way that supports and motivates them.

And the great news is that unlike your IQ, which is fixed when you're about 16 and doesn't fluctuate that much - although you can learn lots more information - your EQ is dynamic and it changes all the time, which means you can work on it and improve it.

Q: How does emotional intelligence contribute to being an effective leader?

Vicky: Emotional intelligence is fundamental to leadership. It determines how we respond to pressure, how we communicate, and how we build relationships.