In many organizations, “firefighting” has become the norm—rushing from one urgent issue to the next, feeling busy and productive, yet never quite getting ahead.
In this GLSS + Lean Tech webinar collaboration, Karlo Tanjuakio, Founder & Chairman of GLSS, and Sissel Lundeby, CEO of Lean Tech, explore why reactive problem solving is so tempting, why it’s celebrated, and how it quietly drains capacity, culture, and long-term results.
Drawing on real-world stories—from IT implementation to life-or-death decisions at sea—they shine a light on the visible and hidden costs of firefighting, from overtime and customer complaints to burnout, lost opportunities, and eroding trust.
Karlo and Sissel also unpack the science behind our “firefighting brain,” using the elephant-and-rider analogy to explain why our emotional, fast-response system often overpowers our rational, long-term thinking. They connect this to organizational reward systems that glorify heroic quick fixes while overlooking the quieter, preventive work of root cause analysis and process improvement.
Throughout the session, they share practical ways to rebalance—like using the 80/20 rule to protect time for strategic work, recognizing proactive problem solvers, and using tools such as a “10 symptoms of firefighting” checklist to reflect on your own organization. Whether you lead a small team or a large enterprise, this webinar will help you move from constant crisis mode toward calmer, more sustainable, and more ethical ways of working.
Sections (links will open in YouTube):
- What is Firefighting? (00:37–01:53)
- Personal Story About Firefighting (1:55-4:00)
- Short-term Versus Long-term Fix (4:15-5:23)
- Historical Pattern: The Fishing Story (6:00–06:50)
- The Iceberg: Hidden Costs of Firefighting (06:51–10:00)
- System 1 & System 2: Elephant and Rider (10:05–16:00)
- Organizational Reward for Quick Fixes (16:01–20:44)
- Exercise: 10 Symptoms of Firefighting (20:48–23:40 )
- Long-term Costly Results and How to Change It (23:41–27:16)
- Visualizing a Better Workday (27:26–29:02)
- Two Fishing Boats: Culture Comparison (29:04–32:18)
- Call-to-Action: Be More Balanced and Productive (32:19–35:31)
References:
- Book: Balansert ledelse by Annar O. Aasheim
- Lean Tech
Take the Next Step Toward Proactive Problem Solving
If you’re ready to shift from constant firefighting to becoming a confident, proactive problem solver, explore GLSS’s Lean Six Sigma courses—designed to help you understand root causes, build sustainable systems, and create long-term impact in your organization.
