Why Leaders Should Think Like Actors: Matt Zina on Authenticity and Influence

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-28

Great leaders aren't just decision-makers—they're communicators. But in a world where attention is the scarcest resource, how do you make people actually listen? Matt Zina, an award-winning acting coach and peak performance speaker, believes the answer lies in a surprising place: the craft of acting. With over two decades of experience, Zina has coached everyone from screen actors to senior executives. His work centers on a simple but powerful idea: emotions drive actions. If you want your audience to move, you have to make them feel something first. In this exclusive interview, Zina shares why authenticity beats perfection, how to build presence, and why every leader needs to think of themselves as a brand. ### What Authenticity Really Looks Like Authenticity isn't about having a polished script. In fact, it's often the opposite. Zina points out that real authenticity shows up in the messy moments—when someone stumbles over their words, laughs it off, and keeps going. "Most people would be too scared to do that," he says. "But it shows authenticity. Authenticity over perfection." That's a hard lesson for many leaders. We've been trained to believe that any sign of weakness or uncertainty undermines authority. But Zina argues the opposite: when you show your human side, people lean in. They trust you more, not less. ### Why Leaders Need to Embrace Their Inner Actor Actors are often seen as the opposite of business leaders—one is about performance, the other about substance. But Zina sees them as the same. "Actors are business leaders," he insists. "I tell them constantly: 'Look, you are a business.'" The actors who succeed are the ones who understand this. They market themselves, maintain a presence on social media, and communicate effectively. The same applies to executives. Yet many resist the idea of building a personal brand, thinking it's beneath them. Zina warns that this mindset is a liability in 2026. "The biggest source of influence right now, whether we like it or not, is social media," he says. "If you're not showing up there, you're handing your influence to someone else." ### The Acting Skills Every Leader Needs What specific skills can leaders borrow from actors? Zina highlights three: - **Emotional authenticity**: The ability to connect with your own feelings and express them genuinely, so your audience feels something too. - **Presence**: The skill of being fully in the moment, whether you're on stage or in a Zoom call, so people feel like you're really with them. - **Adaptability**: The willingness to drop the script and respond to what's happening in the room, rather than just delivering your talking points. These aren't about being fake. They're about being fully human. ### How Authenticity Creates Authority It might sound counterintuitive, but showing vulnerability can actually boost your authority. When you admit a mistake or share a personal story, you demonstrate confidence. You're saying, "I don't need to hide behind a perfect facade." That confidence is magnetic. It makes people trust you, and trust is the foundation of influence. As Zina puts it, "If they feel there's a sense of authenticity, they'll lean in more." ### The Takeaway In a world filled with polished presentations and curated online personas, the most powerful thing you can do is be real. That doesn't mean being sloppy or unprepared. It means being present, being honest, and being willing to show the human behind the title. As Zina says, "Emotions drive actions." If you want to inspire change, start by making people feel something. And the best way to do that is by being authentically yourself—flaws and all. So the next time you step up to speak, remember: you're not just a leader. You're also a performer. And the most compelling performance is the one that's true.