Task saturation. It runs deep in every organization. It’s a topic that has come up in every strategic planning session we’ve conducted this year. When we start identifying things that can hold us back from achieving success at the next level, task saturation consistently ranks near the top of the list. Since it appears to be such a common challenge, you may be wondering: What is task saturation?

It’s the thing or things that absorb your time and attention and keep you from working your strategy. The constant stream of emails that you have to answer. The knocks on your office door that demand your immediate attention. The mundane tasks that eat away at your time. If this sounds like a typical day in your life, you, my friend, are smack dab in the middle of the Leadership Crazy Cycle. That’s the bad news. Fortunately, there’s good news: You can kill the crazy cycle. How can I be so sure? Because I’ve done it myself.

A few years ago, I was right where you are. I was putting in long hours and still not getting everything accomplished. When it came to business priorities, working our strategy came dead last. Then, after years of frustration, I decided to make a change. I killed the cycle.

Recently, I had the opportunity to share my story about how I put an end to the Leadership Crazy Cycle and tackled the task saturation that kept me from focusing more on strategy and actually leading our organization. If you find yourself currently spinning in the Leadership Crazy Cycle—or if you want to know how to avoid it in the first place, check out my recent interview on the Chris LoCurto podcast.