Blog posts

What a box of Rice Krispies and a tasbih taught me about connection

Submitted by Jack Milner on September 8, 2026

 

There’s a story behind this photograph, and I probably need to tell it.

Last week I was running a taster session at KAPSARC in Riyadh on Communicating on the Global Stage. The main theme was connection, because I believe connection has never been more important and yet, bizarrely, most organisations – and most presentations – are incredibly bad at creating it.

The good news is that some of the solutions are remarkably simple. One of them is using a prop.

Executive Presence Is Mostly B*****ks

Submitted by Jack Milner on August 14, 2026

When I first started working in communication skills about 25 years ago, imposter syndrome was running rampant in my head.

An HR Director would say, “We’ve got some brilliant senior leaders, but we need them to have more executive presence.”

And I’d nod knowingly, despite the fact that I had absolutely no idea what executive presence was. In those days, I wasn’t entirely sure what an executive was.

Why Play Produces Better Ideas Than Pressure.

Submitted by Jack Milner on August 10, 2026

The surprising link between creativity, productivity... and having a laugh.

When Charlie Curson and I run our creativity workshops, we start with a bit of a ridiculous exercise.

We ask people to turn each other into statues – in just 20 seconds.

First, they have to create a really boring statue and give it a title e.g. “Plank of Wood in the Garden.” Then they create a silly statue e.g. “glamorous duck trampolining.”

How to Add Three Years to Your Life (Without Really Trying)

Submitted by Jack Milner on July 27, 2026

If I could genuinely add three years to your life, would you read the next 700 words?

Of course you would. And that’s the power of So What.

One of the things I goon about in my presentation workshops is that before you think about confidence, storytelling, slides or body language, you need to answer one simple question:

So what?

Why should your audience care? What’s in it for them?

To Lectern or Not to Lectern?

Submitted by Jack Milner on July 21, 2026

To Lectern or Not to Lectern?

Was this a tale of two lecterns?

First came Keir Starmer doing gravitas: the leader, the decent man, falling on his sword before heading off to see the King. Then came Andy Burnham doing almost exactly the same thing... but without a lectern and obviously with a more positive vibe.

The Problem with Business Class

Submitted by Jack Milner on April 26, 2026

I was flying over to the US recently – very nice and all that, in one of those pods, watching a film called Rental Family; which, is excellent and all about connection.

And as I was watching it, I found myself looking around at all the other pods. Everyone tucked away in their own little space, headphones on, screens on, isolated. And yes the stewards were lovely and attentive, trying to create rapport, but the problem was that we are completely disconnected. I was in truth… (handkerchiefs out please) slightly lonely, if I’m honest.

Successful Boardroom presentations? The dullest answer in communication… it depends

Submitted by Jack Milner on March 19, 2026

 

There’s a lot of advice about boardroom presentations.

Don’t tell stories.
Do present with gravitas.
Get to the point.
Make it interactive.
Don’t make it interactive.
Remember, it’s not a TED Talk.

In my experience, the truth is rather less exciting:

It depends.

IT - DEPENDS - ON - THE - BOARD.

Using Improv Skills – Answering Those Difficult Questions

Submitted by Jack Milner on March 17, 2026

For many presenters, the fear isn’t the presentation, it’s what happens when someone interrupts or asks a tough question.

Ironically, that’s the moment we’re closest to our natural state: having a conversation.

So rather than fearing it, we can borrow from a group of people who deal with awkward audiences all the time, comedians.