Why Business Leaders Must Think Like Actors: Authenticity Wins Influence

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-28

### Authenticity Over Perfection: The New Leadership Currency In a world of polished presentations and curated online personas, the most powerful leaders are choosing a different path. They are embracing imperfection. Matt Zina, an award-winning acting coach and peak performance speaker, argues that authenticity is the single most important factor in building authority and inspiring action. "In 2026, authenticity is everything," Zina says. "It looks like people slipping over their words and then going, 'Oh, I need to put my teeth in,' laughing about it and getting on with it." This vulnerability, he explains, creates a deeper connection than any flawlessly delivered script ever could. Most people are terrified of making a mistake on camera or in front of a room. Zina advises you to lean into those moments. When you show your humanity, your audience leans in with you. They start to trust you. And trust is the foundation of influence. ### Why Emotion Drives Action (And Logic Doesn't) Zina draws on the work of Konstantin Stanislavski, the grandfather of modern acting technique. Stanislavski discovered that audiences have a much more profound emotional experience when they believe in the truth of what an actor is doing on stage. The same principle applies to business communication. "Emotions drive actions," Zina emphasizes. "You have to get people to feel something first." - If you want your team to adopt a new strategy, they need to feel excited about the possibilities. - If you want investors to back your vision, they need to feel confident in your leadership. - If you want customers to buy your product, they need to feel a genuine need or desire. A dry presentation filled with data points might inform, but it rarely transforms. To create change, you must create an emotional experience. Authenticity is the vehicle that delivers that experience. ### The Actor's Mindset for Business Leaders Zina makes a striking point: actors are business leaders. "I have to tell actors constantly, 'Look, you are a business. You are a business leader,'" he explains. The actors who succeed are the ones who market themselves, build a personal brand, and communicate effectively on social media. Yet many business leaders resist this idea. They see themselves as "above" personal branding or social media. Zina believes this is a costly mistake. "The biggest source of influence at the minute, whether we like it or not, is social media," he says. Leaders who ignore this channel are handing over their influence to someone else. ### Practical Skills from Acting That Build Presence What specific skills can you borrow from the acting world to strengthen your presence and influence? **1. Learn to listen actively.** Great actors don't just wait for their turn to speak. They listen intently to their scene partner, reacting in real time. As a leader, this means being fully present in conversations, not mentally preparing your next point. **2. Master your physicality.** Your body language speaks before you do. Actors learn to control their posture, gestures, and eye contact to convey confidence and openness. Stand tall, make eye contact, and use purposeful movements. **3. Control your vocal variety.** A monotone voice kills engagement. Actors vary their pitch, pace, and volume to hold attention. Practice adding inflection to your key points. Pause before important statements. **4. Embrace vulnerability.** As Zina puts it, "Authenticity over perfection." Share a personal story or admit when you don't have all the answers. This makes you relatable and trustworthy. ### The Bottom Line on Authentic Influence In an age of information overload, people crave genuine connection. They can smell a scripted performance from a mile away. The leaders who will earn attention, build trust, and change how audiences think are the ones who dare to be real. As Matt Zina says, "Unless people lean into you and have an emotional experience, they will never change anything." So, step off the script. Show your humanity. That is where true influence begins.