What Theater Can Teach Leaders About Communication

Forbes

21-07-2025

Presenting in the boardroom isn't so different from performing on stage
By Mercedes Segura Amat, Professor of Public Speaking at Esade
Imagine this: the lights dim, an expectant hush settles over the crowd, and suddenly… the CEO walks in. Not into a theater, but a boardroom. Yet the scene is the same: there is an audience, a message, and a unique opportunity to connect — or disconnect.
Many leaders think that communicating means speaking. But if that were true, we would all be Shakespeare. Communicating as a leader is more than just speaking; it is acting. And not in the sense of pretending, but of mastering the stagecraft of presence, emotion, and impact.
When business leaders present, they often set their emotions aside in an attempt to seem more professional. But we are emotional beings. Everything that goes through our hearts and minds influences how we express ourselves. And what is theater if not a form of communication based on emotions. Actors are experts in emotion-driven communication. So, there is a connection between theater and business, since we all want the same thing when we speak. Whether actor or business executive, actor or non-actor, we want to connect, empathize, and touch the hearts and minds of our listeners. That's why theater can help us express ourselves better, with passion, conviction, and fun!
I conceive of every act of communication (every client presentation, every negotiation, every shareholders' meeting) as a scene from a play. Anyone who grasps this parallel and sees the world as a stage automatically elevates the quality of their presentations. Managers who understand that they are actors on the stage of life prepare to deliver the best version of themselves and, like good stage directors, leave nothing to chance (from the script to the scenery, costume design, or connection with the audience). All of this enhances their performance. Let's look at how.
Four lessons from theater to communicate like a leader
1. Prepare the content. This process entails much more than putting together a slide deck in PowerPoint, since that should only cover the key headlines and figures, not the entire message. Use the 'Notes' section of each slide to jot down key sentences you don't want to forget with the exact wording you want to use. The slides are part of the scenery, a backdrop to embellish your performance, not something to be read from.
2. Rehearse in advance. The more prepared you are, the more relaxed you'll be. Have doubts? Rehearse. Afraid you'll forget something? Rehearse. Worried you won't be persuasive enough? Rehearse more. Rehearsing prepares you for the unexpected, because things don't always go according to plan (the projector isn't working and you have to speak without your slides; an unexpected presence in the audience throws you off balance; etc.). And don't think that rehearsing will make you sound less natural, because even naturalness takes practice. You need to rehearse in order to leave room for improvisation. Rehearsing consists of three stages:
3. Tap into the audience's emotion. Are you going to tell a story or give a report? It doesn't matter what industry you're in (technology, renewables, investment banking, etc.): as a leader, you are a storyteller. No matter how technical your presentation is, no matter how many figures and analyses you are dealing with, if you want the audience to tune in and connect, you need to tell a story. Because humans are social creatures, and stories allow us to empathize and understand complex situations. Stories evoke emotions (joy, fear, surprise, sadness), and memory is closely linked to emotions. Numbers, on the other hand, are neutral and do not trigger the same emotional response. Besides, there is a chemical element at work: a good story triggers the release of dopamine and oxytocin in the brain, chemicals that enhance attention and recall. So, for every figure you want your audience to remember, find a story, anecdote, joke, or tale that lets you establish a connection and spark their interest and memory.
4. Relax and focus to overcome any pre-performance jitters through deep, abdominal breathing. Going on stage is a thrilling, but challenging experience, because it is not a 'natural' act. It causes our adrenaline to surge, triggering direct physical responses (our voice trembles, our hands sweat, our hearts race, our movements become jumpy, etc.). How can we appear relaxed and self-assured in front of an audience? Before performing, take three long, slow, deep abdominal breaths. And don't start until the stress subsides. Better to let the audience wait just a bit longer than to step out feeling like a nervous wreck.
For actors, every gesture counts. Every pause carries weight. Actors know all too well that every word can elicit a standing ovation… or a yawn. Just as it can for managers presenting to their teams or their investors. So, the next time you take the floor, remember: you are not giving a speech; you're playing a crucial role. And your audience—whether customers, employees, or partners—is expecting more than just data; it's expecting an experience.
In theater, every performance is unique. There are no retakes. Just a single chance to inspire, convince, or transform. In leadership, so is every conversation. Are you ready to take the stage?