As the year comes to a close many leaders start reflecting about how overwhelming the year got to be.. You always have a never-ending to-do list , decisions pile up, and you find yourself spinning your wheels but going nowhere. For many, this feeling of drowning under tasks isn’t new – it’s part of what we call the Leadership Crazy Cycle – a cycle of overcommitment, scattered focus, and burnout.
If you’re discovering the Leadership Crazy Cycle for the first time, take heart – understanding it is the first step to breaking free and leveraging your leadership to create a more focused, balanced, and impactful new year.
What Is the Leadership Crazy Cycle?
The Leadership Crazy Cycle happens when leaders:
- Feel Responsible for Everything: You take on too much because you don’t trust others to handle it or fear things will fall apart without you.
- Lose Focus: You’re constantly reacting to fires instead of proactively leading.
- Neglect Systems: Without clear processes, even simple tasks feel overwhelming.
- Burn Out: The stress of trying to do it all leaves you exhausted, unproductive, and frustrated.
This cycle doesn’t just affect you – it impacts your team. When you’re overwhelmed, your team feels the ripple effect through confusion, misaligned priorities, and lost momentum.
Why Leaders Feel Overwhelmed
Overwhelm isn’t just about workload – it’s about mindset and habits. Here’s why it happens:
- Unclear Priorities: Without clarity, everything feels urgent, and nothing gets done well.
- Overcommitment: You say “yes” to everything, leaving no margin for rest or reflection.
- Micromanagement: You try to control every detail, making it impossible to step back.
- Lack of Delegation: You don’t empower your team, so you’re stuck doing tasks that aren’t yours to handle.
Breaking free starts with identifying where you’re stuck and taking intentional steps to change.
How to Break Free from the Crazy Cycle
Here are practical ways to stop feeling overwhelmed and start leading with confidence:
1. Get Clear on Priorities
Take time to define what’s truly important for your role and your team. Ask yourself:
- What tasks align with my core responsibilities?
- What can be delegated to others?
- What’s the one thing I need to focus on today to move the needle?
2. Empower Your Team
Leaders often stay stuck in the Crazy Cycle because they feel like they have to do it all. Trusting your team to handle tasks not only lightens your load but helps them grow.
- Share expectations clearly and give your team the resources they need to succeed.
- Resist the urge to micromanage – focus on outcomes, not methods.
3. Build Strong Systems
The absence of systems breeds chaos. Create processes for recurring tasks and challenges, so you don’t have to start from scratch every time.
- Use checklists, templates, or tools to streamline work.
- Set up regular team meetings to align efforts and address roadblocks proactively.
4. Say No to Overcommitment
Every “yes” is a “no” to something else. Protect your time and energy by committing only to what aligns with your goals.
5. Take Time to Reflect
When you’re stuck in constant motion, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture. Regularly take time to pause, reflect, and reset your priorities.
A New Year, A New Approach
If you’ve felt overwhelmed all year, let this be the moment you decide to lead differently. The Leadership Crazy Cycle doesn’t have to define your future. By committing to clarity, delegation, and systems, you can reclaim your focus, improve your team’s dynamics, and make 2025 your most impactful year yet.
Remember: overwhelm is a signal, not a permanent state. It’s never too late to learn, grow, and change. Start today. Here’s to a new year filled with balance, purpose, and leadership that inspires.
