Most leaders I coach describe a constant stretch: deliver results, care for their teams, navigate organizational politics, and somehow avoid burning out. They tell me, “If I can just get through the next quarter, it’ll let up.” Or “We’re down three team members and I’m covering their work. Once we fill those positions, I’ll feel some relief.”

These are real pressures but they rest on a powerful assumption: If I just try harder, I’ll finally get ahead of it.

But what if the problem isn’t effort?