Blog posts

Standing Out

Submitted by Jack Milner on January 25, 2022

When it comes to business presentations, most speakers play far too safely and don’t get close to the line. The result is dull, turgid presentations that actually become dangerous because the audience is bored. Most presentations could do with a little more innovation without risking your presentation. As Mark Zuckerberg says, “The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.” 

Virtual Presentation Mastery - coming out soon!

Submitted by Jack Milner on January 12, 2022

The following is a short excerpt from my book, "Virtual Presentation Master" - due out soon!

Enjoy!

Adding Humour

One of the biggest failings of virtual presenters is they don’t even try to use humour. The reasoning goes something like this: “It’s too hard. I can’t tell if they’re laughing because I can’t see or hear them. Therefore, I won’t do it.” 

Result: dry, dry, dry presentations that kill the audience.

10 presentation tips I've learnt since lockdown

Submitted by Jack Milner on August 21, 2020

Jack Milner

I was having a Zoom lunch (non-messy disappears quickly!) with my wonderful mentor and friend, Andrew. I was telling him that business was going surprisingly well… Then he did what every good mentor should do (particularly when you're getting a little cocky), challenged me. “You doing all these virtual sessions, you must have learnt quite a few new things..?”

Me, “Um, um um… Oh um…”

To Erm is Human

Submitted by Jack Milner on April 15, 2020

3 More Virtual Presentation Tips!

When writing this piece, my initial intention was to lead with a story about ShezAr nailing “With a Little Help from my Friends” on The Voice and linking it across to Joe Cocker’s version and then bridging that to a presentation tip about not being too professional!

3 more tips which could massively improve your next virtual presentation!

Submitted by Jack Milner on April 8, 2020

3 simple tips which will massively improve your next virtual presentation - won't cost you a penny - and which are inspired by apiece of localised flooding!

1) Surprise them.

I was having a drink one night (pre-Corona days) with Mr Holdsworth, the head-teacher of my kids primary school. He's a modest but inspiring leader for his school. He shared a story that I believe is core to good teaching and presenting. Remembering when he was at school, he said one lesson in particular stood out.

Think like a TV presenter?

Submitted by Jack Milner on April 6, 2020

I've been lucky enough to direct a few TV stars, coached some of the country's best selling key-note & TED speakers, as well as the presenters on award winning webinars. What they have in common, is that when it comes to talking to camera, they see the lens as their friend. That might sound a bit cheesy but it's the truth. The good news is that, with almost all of us now presenting online, selling or just meeting ON CAMERA, you can do the same.

The Power of Passion

Submitted by Jack Milner on March 6, 2020

Years ago I was working as an advisor on an ITV comedy reality show, “Stand Up Great Britain.” My job was to work with newer comics and get them up to a certain standard so they didn’t burn and die live on TV. In those days that was considered a bad thing. 

Winning Back Your Audience

Submitted by Jack Milner on March 6, 2020

This is a painful story to relate. A few years ago I was one of four speakers at a conference of engineers. It happened to come at a time of huge stress. I was juggling too many balls - speaker, coach, writer, director and Dad. The night before the event I hadn’t slept properly for weeks and then I decided to join one of my fellow speakers for a few drinks which became a lot more drinks. I didn’t sleep.