A better approach to business and family: Komodo Logistics

Gaining control of the business is the key that has made a massive difference for Jerzy Cierpka, Managing Director of Komodo Logistics, based in Rotherham.

The challenge

When Jerzy first came to me, the business was running him. Every decision came through him personally. Operations were reactive. He spent his days firefighting instead of leading. His evenings were eaten by the business too — there was no real boundary between owning a logistics company and being on call for it 24 hours a day.

It is a pattern I see again and again in owner-managed businesses across Rotherham and the surrounding areas — and it is the single biggest brake on growth.

The approach

We worked together on three things from the first session.

Structure first. Putting in the management cadence and reporting rhythms so the business could be led, not just operated. Weekly leadership focus. Clear ownership of each area.

Empower the team. Jerzy had good people who were not being trusted with real decisions. We changed that. Each member of the team was given the authority to make the calls they were already qualified to make — and held accountable to the outcomes.

Work on the business, not in it. Once the team was running the day-to-day, Jerzy's time freed up for the strategic work that only he could do — and for his family, which had been losing him to the business for too long.

The result

Within six weeks of coaching, the dynamics of Komodo Logistics had changed completely. Jerzy had moved from micromanaging every part of the business to delegating responsibility properly. His team felt empowered to make decisions. The reactive firefighting dropped right back. And Jerzy got his evenings back — time he now spends with his family instead of with his inbox.

"It is sanity in these hard times — just to have someone you can bounce off and who challenges you to think differently. Worth every penny."

— Jerzy Cierpka, Managing Director, Komodo Logistics

What this means for £5m+ owners

Jerzy's story is what the role-shift conversation looks like in practice. The same pattern — owner stuck in the work, team not trusted, time leaking out of the diary — shows up in £5m businesses too, just with bigger consequences. The fix is the same. Structure first. Empower the team second. Then work on the business.

If you recognise yourself in Jerzy's "before" state, the next move is to get specific about where you are losing control of your week.

Step 1: Get your data. Take 7 minutes to score your leadership operating system. You will get an instant, personalised report on where the biggest gaps are. Score your leadership →

Step 2: Let us talk. Book a 30-minute Discovery Call directly into my diary. We will look at your scorecard, talk about what is stopping you delegating properly, and decide whether coaching is the right next move for you. Book a discovery call →

Alternatively, if you are based in Rotherham or across South Yorkshire and want a quick chat first, call the office on 01709 242751 or email me at timcoleman@actioncoach.co.uk.