Time to Think: Nick Millican on the Overlooked Habit That Could Transform Your Workday
In the fast-moving world of commercial real estate, action often takes precedence over reflection. But for Nick Millican, CEO of Greycoat Real Estate, some of the most valuable decisions aren’t made in meetings or on calls—they’re made in the quiet spaces in between. His leadership philosophy embraces something many executives overlook: the discipline of intentional thinking time. This mindset is explored further in this article, where his focus on sustainability and long-term evolution reshapes how real estate can serve cities.
Since joining Greycoat in 2012, Millican has helped steer the firm through a decade of sustained growth in the competitive central London market. But beneath the surface of strategic asset management and high-stakes deals lies a core principle that shapes his approach: better outcomes come from better thought.
Millican sees thinking time not as a luxury, but as a performance tool. In an industry that prizes responsiveness and speed, he makes a case for pausing—stepping back from the day’s noise to assess, reframe, and refocus. Whether evaluating a portfolio’s long-term potential or weighing the nuances of tenant needs, carving out mental space enables sharper decisions and clearer strategy.
This habit of deliberate reflection also informs how Greycoat approaches its projects. Under Millican’s leadership, the firm takes a measured, high-conviction approach to commercial real estate—pursuing superior risk-adjusted returns without succumbing to market frenzy. That balance requires not just data, but discernment. And discernment, in his view, depends on time to think.
That balance is also evident in Nick Millican’s vision for the future of London workspaces, where he emphasizes adapting thoughtfully to shifting work culture and tenant expectations.
Millican encourages his team to adopt the same mindset. In a culture that often equates busyness with value, he challenges the assumption that every hour must be filled with output. Instead, he advocates for structured stillness—moments where stepping back leads to stepping forward more effectively.
On Crunchbase, Nick Millican’s professional trajectory highlights his ability to blend financial strategy with philosophical rigor.
This principle doesn’t mean slowing down. It means thinking at the speed of clarity. Whether navigating macroeconomic shifts or tenant behavior trends, Millican’s approach is rooted in thoughtful agility: staying responsive without being reactive.
In a world that rewards hustle, Nick Millican’s quiet habit stands out. Time to think may be easy to neglect—but in the long game of real estate, it just might be the edge that separates momentum from true insight.
In the fast-moving world of commercial real estate, action often takes precedence over reflection. But for Nick Millican, CEO of Greycoat Real Estate, some of the most valuable decisions aren’t made in meetings or on calls—they’re made in the quiet spaces in between. His leadership philosophy embraces something many executives overlook: the discipline of intentional…