When Your Boss Loves 'Chaos'—How to Protect Your Energy Without Being Swept Away

I once worked under a boss whose true colors shone brightest during the peak of the year-end busy season.

An emergency occurred when an EC system failure made online payments impossible. With sales grinding to a halt, management was immediately forced to scramble for a response.

As soon as the alarm sounded, my boss sprang into action. He started calling clients, waking up engineers on vacation, analyzing logs, and writing code himself.

Watching from the network operations center, we witnessed a recovery drama that felt like something out of a movie.

It was certainly thrilling. It was even moving. But looking back calmly, it was a 'preventable situation.'

Nothing changed after the failure. My boss didn't even mention that this wasn't the first time it had happened, and there was no sign of the organization taking preventive measures.

The signs had been there all along. There were plenty of chances to take action.

However, long-term solutions likely lacked the excitement, the praise, and the adrenaline of that moment.

As expected, the system crashed again a few weeks later. This time, no one was surprised.

Not every leader is on the 'solving chaos' side.

Some leaders are actually 'most alive in the midst of chaos.'

They are 'firefighter-type' bosses who seem to put out the fires they started themselves, only to be praised as heroes.

These bosses always prioritize emergency response, drag their teams into high-stress situations, and value reaction over strategy and heroic effort over efficiency.

So, how should you deal with such a boss? And how can you protect your energy and mental health?

Based on research for my new book, 'Have You Ever Had a Boss Like This?', I will share the characteristics of 'firefighter-type' bosses, their impact, and practical ways you can start protecting yourself today.