The Owner's Coach™
The Owner’s Coach is an executive coaching program specifically for business owners. As your business grows, you want your company to be growing, profitable, and well run. You probably also want an enjoyable, satisfying life outside of your business. Most business owners realize that one key to accomplishing both goals is to surround themselves with a talented team of people and to lead them well. As The Owner’s Coach, I lead business owners through the process of building and leading a team of A-players who in turn help you to create the business and the life you want.
Results
You and I will work together to tailor the program to fit your goals and challenges. My clients have used my help to create significant improvements in:
1. Learning how to surround yourself with talented, effective people.
2. Retaining key employees.
3. Developing your own management skills.
4. Delegating more effectively.
5. Turning strong employees into managers.
6. Creating a culture of accountability within your company.
7. Leading people to focus on results that matter.
8. Developing a powerful sense of team.
9. Creating and implementing new businesses, products, and processes.
10. Sharpening your thinking about your business and your life.
11. Improving your effectiveness as a leader.
12. Improving your effectiveness as a manager.
13. Overcoming difficult team dynamics.
14. Improving personal organization skills.
15. Developing improved relationships with clients, coworkers, and vendors.
16. Improving business development skills.
17. Creating a results-oriented company culture.
18. Leading leaders.
19. Recruiting and hiring A-players.
Lessons Learned from Top Executives In Over 50 Industries
The principles of creating an organization to drive growth and profits extend across industries. When you work with me, you benefit from the lessons learned by my clients over the years in industries that include:
Accounting, architecture, back-room automation, bicycle retail, branding, cabinet manufacturing, catering, chemical manufacturing, commercial baking, commercial cleaning, construction, consulting, convenience retail, countertop fabrication, direct mail, distribution, executive coaching, financial brokerage, financial planning, franchising, franchisors, hazardous waste, health services, incentive travel, investment banking, irrigation equipment manufacturing, IT, junior apparel retail, kitchen & bath retail, kitchen & bath remodeling, landscaping, law, marketing services, mortgage, non-profit, pharmacies, real estate brokerage, real estate development, recruiting, retail, retail development, running specialty retail, sales & distribution, sales training, shoe design & manufacturing, software development, and tradeshow exhibitions.
How The Process Works
Most coaching engagements have an initial intake period and then a coaching program. During the initial intake section of the program we use anywhere from 1-3 sessions to clarify your goals and uncover the issues that have to be addressed to allow you to improve your results. During this intake period I use assessments and interviews to gather intelligence we need to create a coaching roadmap below (see You Can’t Get Good Results Without Good Data, below). Depending upon the program, I may spend 1-3 days with you initially to observe you in action and get face-to-face feedback from your associates.
During the coaching section of the program, we work together via face-to-face sessions, phone sessions, or a combination of the two. Typically, my clients and I meet 1-2 times per month (occasionally this is extended to 3 monthly sessions for a period of time when warranted).
Program Duration
The program lasts anywhere from 3 to 12 months. You have the option to renew the program if we both agree it will be valuable to do so. Fees are determined based on the results we are seeking to achieve, and all fees are payable at the beginning of the program.
Access
Every client can choose a version of the program that provides unlimited access to me via email and brief phone conversations between sessions.
You Can’t Get Good Results Without Good Data
The best coaching starts with the most accurate understanding of you, those with whom you work, and the environment and culture in which you work. Therefore, as part of our coaching work together, I put a big emphasis on helping you to get unbiased, practical data to use in making yourself and your business better. This data comes through leadership and management assessments that you complete and we interpret together. It comes through my in-person observations of your actions. I also use phone interviews, in-person interviews, and 360 degree assessments when appropriate to gather intelligence that we use to shape our coaching strategy.
The most dangerous problems are the ones that you don’t uncover until it is too late. I help my coaching clients get clear on both their opportunities and their challenges, and then put a plan in place to capitalize on the former and eliminate the latter. The result is terrific executives who are able to take themselves and their organizations to the next level. There is nothing I love to do more than help a terrific person win in their career and in their life. That is what coaching is to me.
A Good Coach Provides Both Questions and Answers
I have found that strong executives benefit most from a coach who asks great questions but is willing to provide specific direction as well. You will get a lot of benefit from my questions – we will think together about the strategy and tactics you will use to improve your results. But I will not hesitate to give you my opinion, and I know that executives want to learn lessons and best practices from all the other individuals and organizations with which I work. If I don’t know the answer to a question, I will tell you so and we will work together to find the right answer.
Are We A Fit?
If you have a serious interest in improving your business and your life, you and I will hold a no-fee conversation in which I can learn about your goals and you can learn about my track record and approach. We can see if we are a good fit for one another. If the conversation goes well, I will provide you with a list of business owners like you who have participated in this program. You may contact as many of them as you like and verify for yourself the payoff you will get from investing in this program.
What Clients Have To Say
"Eric has been a tremendous resource not only as a general business consultant but also for his specific knowledge and insight into the specialty running category. His initial general assessment of my wife and I was uncannily accurate with respect to our behaviors, motivations and talent skills. The assessment test provided a great platform from which we could tackle specific store issues such has hiring, role definitions, marketing and employee development. After being in business for 10 years, Eric helped us tremendously in finding new and innovative ways of structuring our business for the future. Patti and I look forward to continuing our work with Eric who has become one of the most important members of our team."
Rob Calega, Franchise Owner
Fleet Feet Sports, Marlton NJ
"Eric, I have found a great deal of personal confidence by using you as an executive coach. I knew the basic direction that I wanted to go, and working with you has given me the confidence to go do it. Because you are not involved in the day-to-day operations of my company, you bring a level of objectivity to our conversations that is very helpful. You are able to provide me with a level of accountability that I find helpful. And you are willing to call me on sales and management issues in ways that is great. I look forward to getting even more out of our work together in the future.”
Mark Cusumano
President
Fresh Warehousing
"Our perspective on our businesses has only improved since beginning to work with Eric Herrenkohl over the last few years. We were mired in the everyday challenges of owning multiple businesses when we discovered Eric’s company, Herrenkohl Consulting. Eric’s keen sense of what’s important focused us on our most important asset: our employees . . . Eric assisted us in implementing some key tools in our hiring process. We now regularly use his assessment questionnaire for all prospective employees . . . When it comes to planning for future growth, Eric has brought a fresh perspective and a big picture approach in helping us to effectively structure our organization . . . A review of how Herrenkohl Consulting has positively impacted our business would not be complete without mentioning Eric’s ability to listen to two owners (who many times have opposing views) and interpret how best to tackle a current challenge or issue. His communication skills and his ability to get to the heart of a matter make his services a “must” for any owner wanting to take their business to the next level.
Tim and Lori Dreiling
Franchise Owners
Fleet Feet Tulsa
‘‘Eric, I appreciate your being a resource for me over the past two years as I have revitalized Friesen Enterprises. Most successful entrepreneurs know how to surround themselves with talented, effective people and I count you as one such person for me. I have found you to be a great partner in dealing with the leadership and management issues that face a business such as mine. Seeing the business from a distance with the wisdom you bring was so valuable to me. Without it I would have failed to experience this new level of success. Our sessions have been valuable for my own effectiveness as an entrepreneur and leader. I look forward to maintaining our relationship as Friesen Enterprises grows.’’
Ellen Friesen
President
Friesen Enterprises
“Working with Eric Herrenkohl has gotten me committed to recruiting, which really means disciplining yourself to treat recruiting as a daily endeavor. Recruiting, like any business activity takes time . . . Even ‘little things’ such as putting flyers in bags and proactively approaching people who are high potential leads is generating new candidates. It is one thing to say that you are recruiting; it is another thing to do it!”
Joe Glotzbier, Owner
Fleet Feet Sports
Mahwah, NJ
“This process helped us to clarify the roles and leverage the strengths of every person in our business including ourselves. We now have a clear organizational chart and definition of roles and responsibilities that we can communicate to our staff. This process has helped us move toward the personal and financial goals that motivated us to open our own business. Although we are a small business we can benefit from big business thinking and planning, and we have gotten that in our work with you.”
Russ and Andrea Gunnell,
Franchise Owners
Fleet Feet Fayetteville, AR
“Eric, I wanted to share some thoughts with you about our work together over the past year. It has been more helpful than I ever imagined, and has contributed significantly to the success we have experienced at Castle Contracting. More importantly, my own personal fulfillment with my work has grown as I have gained focus on the essentials to running this business and my own professional life. . . You opened my eyes to the simple logic of doing the right things, using my people’s innate talents, and being the best leader I can be. Our work together resulted in more delegation to my key people, more support for them in areas where they are weak, and more focus on the goals and results we demand in our business. You strengthened my position, but not at the expense of others at Castle. Actual leadership is something far different than what purports to be leadership. It is service at its highest level. It is also adherence to core values without compromise. Thank you for those gifts. . . We look forward to continuing our relationship into the future.”
Rich Ledbetter
Chief Operations Officer
Castle Contracting
It is amazing the questions he asks to make you think about ways of how to solve the problems/issues you have and how manageable the solutions seem . . . Eric has helped us at each step and has helped us through the details of our growing and still needing to be organized business. We are still meeting with him (over the phone) to discuss many of these same issues as our business continues to grow and change.
Blaine and Robin Lewis
Franchise Owners
Fleet Feet Roanoke
‘‘We have employed Eric Herrenkohl of Herrenkohl Consulting to help the leadership team of our firm clarify our vision for our company and develop strategies to implement that vision. He has been both a meeting facilitator and coach. We have appreciated Eric’s ability to ask the questions that make us wrestle together with the “big picture” issues so that they truly represent what we want to accomplish. Our firm has already begun to see tangible benefit from the time invested in working through these issues. It has been great to have Eric come along side and provide both an objective critique and encouragement. I could not think of someone who would be a better fit for our firm.’’
David Mastin
President
St. Louis Design Alliance
“We utilized Eric Herrenkohl to create a statement of vision, strategy, and goals for our firm and align our people with these goals. After one year of work with Eric, we have a roadmap that clearly defines where our firm is heading, how we are going to reach our goals, and why those are the right goals for our firm. We feel that our improved organizational structure better supports the achievement of these goals. Our new, common sense plan has been quickly and effectively implemented as a result of Eric’s expertise. We appreciate his involvement with Mitchell+Hugeback and look forward to having an ongoing relationship with him as the firm grows.”
Larry Mitchell and Mark S. Hugeback
Principals
Mitchell+Hugeback Architects Inc.
“I value and trust your opinion which is important if you are helping me make decisions that impact my business. I can tell you really enjoy what you do because you are very thorough in your research and preparation and typically have a way to find the answers. When you give an answer or opinion you get almost excited about it and of course that excitement is contagious. I wish I could hire you to work for me full time!”
Jenny Rausch
President
Karr-Bick Kitchen & Bath
“I had inside me the desire to put into place a new corporate culture that could support the significant growth that AAQ has generated over the years. While I knew at a gut level what I wanted, Eric is able to ask me questions and frame up issues in a way that ‘pulls the ideas out’ and helps to solidify them in a form that I can roll them out within my organization. Because he focuses on helping me to clarify, articulate, and implement my own ideas, I have found him to be a valuable collaborator.”
Dan Schmitt
President
AAQ Inc.
“As our business steadily grew from a true Mom & Pop enterprise to one with dozens of employees, I feared that my lack of formal education in the areas of business and personnel management would ultimately limit our growth potential. Eric Herrenkohl studied our business and helped us address my three biggest concerns. First, we established a business structure that matches our current size and will grow with us. Second, we implemented long-term career development/retention plans for key employees. Third, we initiated a hiring process that makes use of the latest personnel assessment tools. All have proven effective.”
David Spetnagel
Franchise Owner
Fleet Feet Sports, St. Louis MO
"We worked with Eric Herrenkohl of Herrenkohl Consulting to clarify the organizational structure of Fleet Feet Sacramento and to clarify the roles & goals of each full-time associate. The process gave us clear, near-term goals for the owners and the staff. It helped to remove the ambiguity of how to guide each member of our staff through their career with Fleet Feet. And it helped us to define roles within our company. I also appreciate the process because it helps to create more confident employees who know what responsibilities to focus on and why those responsibilities are important. In the end the process helps employees to develop a greater sense of ownership, and lets them know that the owners care about them and their careers."
Pat Sweeney
Franchise Owner
Fleet Feet Sports, Sacramento CA
“Our business is growing very quickly and we felt the need to evaluate every facet of the business. This evaluation included us and our full time employees. Herrenkohl Consulting provided us with an objective look at ourselves and our employees. They helped us reinforce some of our own thoughts and re-evaluate many of our processes. They also helped us find a tactful means to approach key employees on touchy subjects. We believe that when we complete this process Fleet Feet Huntsville, Dink and Suzanne and all the employees will benefit through more business growth and individual developmental growth.”
Suzanne Taylor
Franchise Owner
Fleet Feet Sports, Huntsville AL
"Eric understands how things really work in the business world. There is nothing academic or theoretical about his coaching. As he helped me through a difficult wind down of one business and the successful launch of Sales Force One, I came to see Eric not only as a great personal effectiveness coach, but also as a business-owner peer who is a tremendous resource. The longer I work with him, the more I am impressed with his grasp of the major issues that senior executives and business owners face today.”
Mike Weinberg
President
Sales Force One