Breaking Free from Firefighting Mode, Lessons from My Amazon Experience

There’s a kind of exhaustion that goes beyond working hard — it’s the drain of constantly reacting, scrambling, and never feeling in control.

When I was at Amazon, I experienced this firsthand. Leading a product development initiative with five cross-functional teams, I saw incredible talent and dedication. But I also saw one team stuck in a mode that many of us know too well: firefighting.

The Cost of Firefighting Mode

This team didn’t lack talent or dedication. Far from it. But their day-to-day reality looked something like this:

• Constantly shifting priorities that derailed long-term plans.

• Late deliveries created bottlenecks for other teams.

• Bugs and customer issues are handled ad hoc, with no time to step back and strategize.

• A mounting sense of frustration, burnout, and defeat.

And it didn’t just impact them — it affected everyone. Other teams, even those delivering on time, had to wait for the missing pieces. Plans were constantly adjusted to account for delays. The ripple effects were impossible to contain.

Worst of all, this firefighting mode wasn’t just a bad day or a tough sprint. It became their norm.

Why Firefighting Feels Impossible to Escape

The cruel irony of firefighting mode is this: You’re so busy putting out fires, that you don’t have time to prevent the next one.

We tried everything to help them break free.

• We restructured workflows to reduce dependencies.

• We encouraged them to adopt prioritization frameworks to focus on what mattered most.

• We supported their efforts to strengthen processes and establish ownership.

But no matter what we tried, the fires kept coming. They simply didn’t have the time or breathing room to step back, analyze the chaos, and create a sustainable path forward.

The Turning Point

That’s when I realized something critical: They couldn’t fix it alone.

Firefighting mode isn’t just a logistical problem — it’s a systemic one. And solving systemic problems takes more than patchwork solutions. It takes a dedicated focus, accountability, and a fresh perspective.

Sometimes, you need someone from the outside to come in — not to point fingers, but to take on the work of creating real change.

• Someone who can analyze root causes without being caught in the daily churn.

• Someone who can prioritize systemic fixes over quick wins.

• Someone who can give the team the time and space they need to breathe, regroup, and rebuild.

When we finally brought in dedicated support, the transformation was remarkable. Over time, that team shifted from chaos to clarity. They moved from firefighting to focused, planned execution. And with that change came relief — not just for them, but for every team that depended on them.

Your Team Deserves to Thrive

Firefighting mode isn’t just unsustainable — it’s a roadblock to everything you’re trying to achieve. As a leader, you know how critical it is to deliver results, keep your team aligned, and scale effectively.

But here’s the truth: You don’t have to choose between short-term fixes and long-term success. With the right support, you can break free from firefighting mode, reclaim your focus, and give your team the tools they need to thrive.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I work with leaders to identify root causes, create scalable solutions, and guide teams out of firefighting mode into sustainable success.

Let’s start a conversation. If you’re ready to shift from chaos to clarity, reach out — or leave a comment below.

Your team’s future starts with one decision to change.