The Corporate Commando® – Gareth Timmins

What is The Corporate Commando Initiative?

The Corporate Commando Initiative is the product of 25 years at the frontier of elite performance – on the rugby pitch with Leeds Rhinos, on operations with the Royal Marines Commandos, and now in boardrooms and business schools. It fuses elite sport, military conditioning, and neuroscience to redefine how individuals and teams achieve sustainable excellence. This model is now being adopted across elite military units, emergency services, and commercial organisations globally. At its core is a simple but powerful principle:

“Manage energy like elite athletes – cycle effort, embed recovery, and align emotional regulation with fast decisions.”

This isn’t about one-off brilliance. It’s about building systems that support repeatable, sustainable performance.

From High Performance to Elite Performance

We talk a lot about high performance. But that’s often sporadic – achievable with some investment and alignment. Elite performance, the domain of the 0.1%, demands something more:

Are we creating the conditions where elite performers choose to stay?
Do our systems support not just performance, but recovery and growth?
Are we leading with the clarity that today’s top talent demands?

Yet in the corporate world, we often starve wellbeing while feeding ambition. We chase targets but neglect human maintenance. Burnout becomes the cost of doing business.

“Resilience isn’t a badge, it’s a bandwidth.”

Push it too long, and it thins. Like a muscle, it must be trained: load, rest, rebuild. In the military, rest is a strategic asset. In business, it’s often postponed until it’s too late.

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The Resilience Paradox

We adapt under pressure. But without reflection, prolonged stress erodes our emotional defences. It disconnects us from our own humanity. In elite teams, cycles of performance are protected. In business, pressure is cumulative.

“Picture this: You’d never set off on a long journey without fuelling the car, checking tyres, and planning rest stops. But in our careers, we push through the flashing warning lights, believing resilience will carry us.”

It might. But what’s left when we get there? That’s why self-awareness, reflection, and recovery must become part of the rhythm of work, not a reward for surviving it.

Pacing Smarter…

Elite performance isn’t about pushing harder – it’s about pacing smarter. The Corporate Athlete model reframes individuals as high-capacity vehicles, requiring rhythm, recovery, and maintenance. If your business wants to unlock the elusive 0.1%, you must design systems where people can thrive – physically, cognitively, and emotionally. That’s the elite edge. And it’s available to any organisation willing to train for it. As you reflect on your own leadership and organisational culture, ask yourself:

Are we creating the conditions where elite performers choose to stay?
Do our systems support not just performance, but recovery and growth?
Are we leading with the clarity that today’s top talent demands?

The organisations that can answer “yes” to these questions will be the ones that not only survive disruption, but shape the future through the strength of their people.

*Book a discovery session with Gareth’s team today to explore how to embed elite performance in your organisation.

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Client Testimonials

”We would wholeheartedly recommend Gareth to any organisation looking to inspire their people, challenge their thinking, and elevate their culture. His ability to connect, motivate, and leave a lasting impact is exceptional.
Jo BishendenChief Learning Officer, QA

”Gareth has helped shift the mindset of our leadership team, by really getting under the skin of why groups and individuals react to pressure in certain ways. As a result, the managers have already adopted a new narrative on how they can work together as an elite team and the power of embracing acceptance.
Jason CranswickManaging Director, Norton Way Group