PMO Strategies 335: Leveraging Imagination as a Strategic Superpower with Dr. Rebecca Sutherns
Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!
PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills
PMO leaders are great at execution. They know how to plan, deliver, and measure. But when change accelerates, those same strengths can become constraints. What’s missing isn’t discipline or process—it’s imagination.
A failure of imagination is what causes teams to drift, leaders to burn out, and organizations to lose alignment. We picture success differently, chase separate goals, and end up working harder without getting closer to what really matters. Imagination isn’t fluff—it’s a serious strategic tool that helps you see around corners, prepare for what’s next, and create shared clarity before execution begins.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to use imagination as a competitive advantage. Dr. Rebecca Sutherns shares how PMO and transformation leaders can stretch their thinking with her ELASTIC leadership framework—and how imagination, when practiced collectively, can align stakeholders, energize teams, and turn your PMO into a true strategic IMPACT engine.
You'll Learn:
- Why a failure of imagination leads to misalignment and drift.
- How to build a shared, vivid vision that aligns people.
- How to use imagination to strengthen strategy, not replace it.
- What the ELASTIC leadership framework teaches about leadership.
- A simple way to bring imagination into your next planning conversation.
👉 Press play to see how imagination can move your PMO from order-taker to strategy-shaper—and help you lead the future, not just respond to it.
P.S. Featured Resource: If you’re focused on building a PMO that actually moves the business forward, download The Case for a Strategy-Driven PMO. It’s a quick, practical guide to help you build an executive-ready business case and define the outcomes your leaders care about most.
And, when you download the resource, you’ll be on the list for an invitation for a one hour live session where I will walk you through the Strategy-Driven PMO Canvas.
Connect with Dr. Rebecca Sutherns:
Listen to her podcast interviews
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I welcome your feedback and insights!
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Warmly,
Laura Barnard
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