Chief Change Officer Podcast Episode #268: Rebecca Sutherns - Building a Life That Flexes—Not Breaks (Part Two)

Release Date: April 1, 2025

Introduction

In episode #268 of the Chief Change Officer podcast, host Vince Chan engages in a profound conversation with Rebecca Sutherns, a seasoned strategy coach and facilitator with 27 years of experience. This two-part series delves into pivotal moments that transform lives and careers, exploring themes of resilience, adaptability, and continuous growth without burnout. Rebecca shares her authentic and unpolished journey, offering listeners invaluable insights gleaned from her extensive work with individuals and organizations alike.

The Role of History in Personal and Organizational Growth

Rebecca begins by addressing the common tendency to rely on past experiences and data when contemplating future changes. She emphasizes the importance of shifting from a backward-looking perspective to a forward-thinking mindset.

Rebecca Sutherns [03:03]:
"History is a springboard to the future, not a drag or inertia. It can serve as a foundation to build upon rather than an anchor that keeps us defined in a particular way."

Rebecca discusses how our past can either propel us into new possibilities or hold us back if we become too attached to previous identities and methodologies. She advocates for embracing curiosity and imagination in adulthood, asserting that adults possess a rich memory bank that, when leveraged correctly, can enhance creativity and adaptability.

Rebecca Sutherns [03:30]:
"Our curiosity actually stems from our memories. Adults have more experience to draw on to help us, in theory, be more curious, more imaginative if we are willing to be a bit more experimental."

She highlights the significance of coaching in helping individuals visualize who they could become, using their history as a springboard rather than an anchor. Momentum, she notes, is crucial during transitions, as it helps maintain progress through periods of uncertainty.

Rebecca Sutherns [05:30]:
"One of the things that's most motivating when you're going through transition is momentum. If I can help people both initiate and maintain momentum, the likelihood of them being able to make some of the brave choices that they want to make is that much higher."

Similarities and Differences in Organizational vs. Individual Change

When asked about the parallels and distinctions between organizational and personal transformations, Rebecca provides a nuanced exploration of both realms.

Rebecca Sutherns [07:03]:
"One of the similarities is the importance of articulating clearly what a win looks like, what success looks like."

In both contexts, defining success is paramount. However, while individual changes often involve one-on-one conversations to establish personal goals, organizational changes require collective dialogue to align diverse perspectives within the team or organization.

Rebecca Sutherns [08:00]:
"When you're working organizationally, we need to have conversations as a group... to develop that shared joint picture of success."

Rebecca underscores the facilitator's role in structuring these conversations, ensuring that all voices are heard and that there's a unified understanding of the desired outcomes. This structured approach is mirrored in her coaching techniques with individuals, emphasizing clarity and collective alignment.

Helping Mature Individuals Reimagine and Adapt

Addressing mature audiences, Rebecca discusses strategies to help individuals in later stages of life leverage their past experiences to envision and create fulfilling futures.

Rebecca Sutherns [15:13]:
"I think for me, on a mindset level, really going deep in thinking about whether I believe that the best is yet to come or whether the best days are behind me, has been a really important exercise."

Rebecca introduces the metaphor of an "elastic" from her book, symbolizing the balance between stretching oneself for growth and maintaining resilience to prevent snapping under pressure.

Rebecca Sutherns [15:45]:
"An elastic is only useful if it is stretched. But if you stretch it too fast, too much for too long, it is also not useful."

She advocates for personalized pathways to adaptability, recognizing that each individual's preferred methods—whether through grit, big-picture thinking, or team support—differ. This personalized approach ensures that growth is sustainable and aligned with one's unique strengths and preferences.

Rebecca Sutherns [16:50]:
"You don't get to choose whether you adapt or not, but you do get to choose the extent and the speed and the pathways you take to get there that feel like you."

Integrating Professional Insights into Family Life

Rebecca shares how her professional expertise seamlessly integrates into her personal life, particularly in her role as a parent and grandparent.

Rebecca Sutherns [21:29]:
"We have done home exchanges and lots of other creative ways to travel the world. I feel like if any of them were sitting here, they would say, what do I ask mom to do? I ask her to edit my essays, I ask her to plan my trips, I ask her to help my friends..."

Rebecca emphasizes the importance of authenticity and integrity, ensuring that her guidance remains consistent across her professional and personal interactions. By modeling warmth combined with insight, she fosters an environment of trust and support within her family.

Rebecca Sutherns [21:50]:
"The way that people describe the work that I do is this warm energy combined with insight. If that can be helpful to my own family, so much the better."

The Importance of Teachable Attitudes

A pivotal part of Rebecca's approach is fostering a culture of teachability and continuous learning, both in her family and with her clients.

Rebecca Sutherns [25:07]:
"We have really encouraged them to seek out good role models and good mentors and be people who value feedback."

Rebecca highlights the value of feedback and the willingness to learn as essential traits for personal and professional growth. By encouraging her children to embrace corrections as opportunities for improvement, she instills a resilient and growth-oriented mindset.

Rebecca Sutherns [25:30]:
"The people that I most enjoy working with are people who are teachable, people who really want to learn from people who inspire them and who want to get better and who want to level up."

Conclusion and Resources

As the conversation wraps up, Rebecca directs listeners to additional resources, including a quiz to assess their current state in transitions and her book, "Elastic," which delves deeper into adaptable leadership qualities with relatable case studies.

Rebecca Sutherns [26:46]:
"We have a little quiz that you can try that will give you some idea of where you're at right now across five different areas that most people in transition are craving."

Vince closes by reinforcing the episode's key message: reinvention doesn't necessitate complete overhauls but often involves viewing one's life from new perspectives. He encourages listeners to subscribe, leave reviews, and connect through various platforms.

Vince Chen [27:50]:
"Rebecca doesn't offer tidy answers, but she does offer frameworks, metaphors, and the kind of permission a lot of us need right now. Reinvention doesn't mean changing everything. Sometimes it's just seeing your life from a new angle."

Key Takeaways

• Leverage the Past: Use historical experiences as a foundation for future growth rather than allowing them to limit your potential.

• Define Success Clearly: Whether individually or organizationally, clearly articulating what success looks like facilitates targeted and effective change.

• Maintain Momentum: During transitional periods, sustaining momentum is crucial for making brave and meaningful changes.

• Embrace Adaptability: Develop personalized pathways to adapt, recognizing and utilizing your unique strengths and preferences.

• Foster Teachable Attitudes: Encourage continuous learning and openness to feedback to drive personal and professional development.

• Integrate Insights Personally: Apply professional wisdom authentically within personal relationships to foster trust and support.

Notable Quotes

• Rebecca Sutherns [03:30]:
  "Our curiosity actually stems from our memories. Adults have more experience to draw on to help us, in theory, be more curious, more imaginative if we are willing to be a bit more experimental."

• Rebecca Sutherns [07:03]:
  "One of the similarities is the importance of articulating clearly what a win looks like, what success looks like."

• Rebecca Sutherns [15:13]:
  "I think for me, on a mindset level, really going deep in thinking about whether I believe that the best is yet to come or whether the best days are behind me, has been a really important exercise."

• Rebecca Sutherns [16:50]:
  "You don't get to choose whether you adapt or not, but you do get to choose the extent and the speed and the pathways you take to get there that feel like you."

• Vince Chen [27:50]:
  "Reinvention doesn't mean changing everything. Sometimes it's just seeing your life from a new angle."

Resources Mentioned

• Rebecca Sutherns' Book: Elastic
  Explore the concept of adaptable leadership through relatable case studies and the "elastic" metaphor.

• Podcast Resources:
  Access a quiz to assess your current state in transitions and additional materials featured in the show notes.

• Follow Rebecca Sutherns:
  Engage with Rebecca’s work and resources on her website and social media platforms.

Join Rebecca Sutherns and Vince Chan in navigating the intricate journey of personal and organizational transformation. Whether you're a growth progressive, a visionary underdog, or someone boldly rewriting the rules, this episode offers the frameworks and inspiration to help you outgrow yourself and unlock unimaginable outcomes.

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