Why Business Leaders Should Think Like Actors: Authenticity Wins

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-28

### The Power of Authenticity in Leadership What does it really take to command a room, earn trust, and inspire people to act? If you ask Matt Zina—an award-winning acting coach, talent agent, and peak performance speaker—the answer is simpler than you might think: be authentic. Zina, who spent years as a professional actor with credits on shows like *Heartbeat* and *Emmerdale*, now teaches business leaders the same skills that help actors perform under pressure. His core message? In 2026, authenticity beats perfection every single time. So, what does authenticity actually look like in practice? Picture a speaker who trips over their words, laughs it off, and keeps going instead of restarting a video. That moment of vulnerability builds more trust than a flawless delivery ever could. Most people would panic. Zina wouldn't, because he knows that showing your human side creates a deeper connection. ### Why Emotion Drives Action Here's the thing: people don't change because they hear a great argument. They change because they *feel* something. Zina puts it bluntly: "Emotions drive actions." Think about the last time a presentation actually moved you. Chances are, it wasn't the slides or the data. It was the speaker's passion, their story, their honesty. That's not an accident—it's psychology. Zina points to Konstantin Stanislavski, the grandfather of modern acting technique, who discovered that when actors are fully present and truthful in their roles, audiences have a much more powerful emotional experience. The same principle applies to business. If you want your audience to lean in, you have to give them a reason to feel. - Authenticity creates connection, which builds trust. - Trust leads to engagement, which drives action. - Action is what ultimately creates change. Without that emotional hook, your audience will sit through your presentation and forget it five minutes later. They won't change their behavior, and your message will be lost. ### What Business Leaders Can Learn from Actors Here's a surprising take: actors are business leaders. As an agent, Zina constantly reminds his clients that they are their own brand. The actors who succeed are the ones who market themselves, stay visible on social media, and communicate effectively. The same goes for executives. Many business leaders shy away from building a personal brand. They see themselves as "above" social media or think their work should speak for itself. But in 2026, that's a dangerous mindset. The biggest source of influence right now, whether you like it or not, is social media. If you're not showing up there, you're letting someone else define your narrative. > "Unless people lean into you and have an emotional experience, they will never change anything." — Matt Zina ### Practical Takeaways for Your Next Presentation So, how do you put this into practice? Start by ditching the script. Stop reading your slides and start talking to the back of the room like you're having a conversation. Embrace your imperfections—they make you relatable. And above all, remember why you're speaking: to create change, not just to deliver information. Zina's advice is clear: work harder on being authentic. It's not about being perfect. It's about being real. When you master that, you'll not only earn attention—you'll earn trust, and that's what truly moves people to act.