What Business Leaders Can Learn from Actors About Authenticity and Influence

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-28

### The Power of Authentic Communication In an exclusive interview, award-winning acting coach Matt Zina shares why leaders must embrace imperfection to build trust and drive action. Zina, who has worked with actors and senior executives for over two decades, believes that authenticity is the key to influence in 2026. "In 2026, authenticity is everything," Zina says. "It looks like people slipping over their words and then laughing about it, rather than starting over. Most people would be too scared to do that, but it shows authenticity over perfection." Zina argues that traditional presentations—where you stare at the back of the room and click through slides—no longer work. Communication has changed, and leaders need to adapt. ### Emotions Drive Actions Zina draws on acting techniques to explain why authenticity matters. "One thing I say constantly in my acting classes is: emotions drive actions. You've got to get people to feel something first." He credits Russian theatre practitioner Stanislavski, the grandfather of modern acting, who discovered that when performers are authentic, audiences have a deeper emotional experience. The same principle applies to business presentations. "Unless people lean into you and have an emotional experience, they will never change anything about themselves," Zina explains. "That's why authenticity works—it helps you achieve your aim of getting people to change." ### What Leaders Can Learn from Actors Zina believes actors and business leaders share more in common than most realize. "Actors are business leaders," he says. "The ones who understand that quickly do very well. They connect, market themselves, and maintain a constant presence on social media." Many leaders, however, resist building a personal brand. "Actors often want to stay away from social media because they see themselves as something else. I think many business leaders do the same. They don't see themselves as a personal brand." But influence in 2026 demands visibility. Whether you like it or not, social media is the biggest source of influence today. Leaders who embrace it can build trust and earn attention. ### Practical Takeaways for Leaders - **Embrace imperfection**: Audiences connect with real people, not polished robots. - **Lead with emotion**: Facts inform, but feelings motivate action. - **Build a personal brand**: Visibility is essential for influence. - **Adapt your communication**: One-way presentations are dead; engagement is everything. Matt Zina's work proves that the line between acting and leadership is thinner than most think. By applying these principles, you can strengthen your presence, earn trust, and inspire real change.