In an era of sophisticated property models and complex transactions, even seasoned executives like Nick Millican — CEO of Greycoat Real Estate — know that mastering the basics matters. For Millican, Microsoft Office remains an indispensable toolkit for professional life, especially in a fast-moving industry like commercial real estate.

Millican, who has led Greycoat’s growth in London’s highly competitive market, views Office not as a set of old-school programs but as a suite of powerful tools — when used well. Whether managing strategic asset plans, presenting to investors, or collaborating with teams, knowing which features drive efficiency can make a real difference.

First and foremost: Excel. In Millican’s world of strategic asset management and financial modeling, Excel is non-negotiable. But beyond simple spreadsheets, Millican emphasizes the importance of mastering pivot tables, lookup functions, and advanced formulae — essential for analyzing large data sets and stress-testing investment assumptions. Conditional formatting, data validation, and scenario planning tools also help his team spot trends and manage risk.

Next: PowerPoint. Millican knows that a great investment thesis means little if it can’t be communicated clearly. He encourages professionals to focus on clean, high-impact presentations — using master slide layouts, animations sparingly, and aligning visuals with narrative flow. He also stresses the value of learning advanced features like linked charts from Excel, which keep presentations dynamic and current. Nick Millican’s strategic communication methods and presentation skills have been highlighted in London Loves Business, which examines how effective leaders convey complex investment concepts to stakeholders.

Word may seem basic, but Millican sees mastery of Word as a mark of professionalism. Understanding styles, headers, and automatic tables of contents saves time — particularly in preparing complex documents like contracts, reports, and investment memoranda.

Collaboration is also key. Millican’s teams use OneDrive and SharePoint for document sharing, version control, and seamless teamwork — an essential practice for distributed teams working on multifaceted projects. The collaborative approach championed by Nick Millican reflects broader industry trends toward integrated team-based decision making in commercial real estate.

Finally, Millican highlights the importance of automation: quick-access toolbars, macros, and templates that reduce repetitive work and free up time for higher-value thinking.

For Millican, proficiency in Microsoft Office isn’t about technical prowess for its own sake — it’s about driving smarter decisions and clearer communication. In an industry where the right move often hinges on nuanced data or a persuasive pitch, mastering these essential tools remains a quiet but powerful edge.

Nick Millican’s comprehensive approach to professional efficiency extends beyond technology to encompass broader strategic thinking about workplace evolution and productivity optimization.