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The Power of Intentional Communication: What Leaders can learn from Actors

Friday, October 03, 2025

Kate Maddison-Greenwell

When actors deliver lines on stage or in front of a camera, they don’t just recite words, they become intentional about every aspect of their performance. They carefully choose their facial expressions, tone, and body language to communicate their character’s emotions and intentions. This intentionality is a powerful tool that corporate leaders can learn from to enhance their own communication and leadership presence.

Intentionality in Acting

Actors know that how they deliver a line can completely change its meaning. A single sentence can be humorous, menacing, heartfelt, or sarcastic, depending on how it’s performed. To achieve this, actors make deliberate choices about their body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, and even the rhythm of their speech.

For instance, an actor portraying frustration might clench their jaw, narrow their eyes, and speak with a clipped tone. In contrast, portraying empathy might involve softening the gaze, relaxing the shoulders, and using a gentle, measured voice. Every choice is purposeful and supports the story they want to tell.

Why leaders need to be intentional

In the corporate world, leaders often assume that their good intentions will naturally shine through. Yet, much like actors who risk being misunderstood if they don’t match their performance to the script, leaders can also be misunderstood when their body language, tone, and facial expressions don’t align with their words.

Think about the manager who, while announcing a new initiative, crosses their arms and avoids eye contact. Despite positive words, their non-verbal cues might communicate resistance or scepticism. Or consider the leader who says they value innovation but responds to new ideas with a flat tone or dismissive gestures. Employees quickly pick up on the disconnect and may feel discouraged.

Leading like an Actor: Matching Intentions with Behaviour

Here are three ways leaders can apply an actor’s intentionality to their own communication:

Set your intention before you enter the room: Just as an actor prepares for a scene, take a moment before entering a meeting to decide what energy you want to bring. Are you aiming to motivate, support, or challenge your team? Setting an intention helps align your body language, tone, and expressions with your message.

Be aware of your non-verbal cues: Actors train to be acutely aware of how their posture, facial expressions, and voice contribute to their character. As a leader, pay attention to your physical presence. Are your shoulders tense? Are you frowning without realising it? A simple adjustment, like uncrossing your arms or softening your tone, can make you appear more approachable and open.

Practise deliberate communication: Actors practise lines repeatedly to find the most authentic delivery. Leaders can also benefit from rehearsing key messages. Try saying your message out loud and notice your tone and expressions. Do they match your intention? If you’re giving critical feedback, does your tone remain respectful? If you’re expressing gratitude, do your facial expressions reflect sincerity?

The Intention Party

A practical exercise

A great way to explore intentional communication is through a simple and engaging activity called the "Intention Party". Give each participant a card describing an attitude or emotion, such as cheerful, frustrated, or empathetic. The goal is to embody that emotion without using words to describe it. Participants interact as though they are at a party, guessing each other’s assigned attitudes based on body language, facial expressions, and tone.

This exercise highlights how quickly we can convey complex emotions when we are intentional about our non-verbal cues. After the activity, discuss how easy it was to portray these attitudes when deliberately focusing on communication style.

Download the free Intention Party Toolkit here.

What you'll get in the toolkit:

Full instructions on how to throw an "Intention Party" for your team

Tips for the facilitator to feel confident leading the exercise

Ideas on customisations for repeated facilitation

60 unique "Intention Cards" of emotions, attitudes and intentions to play with

Discussion questions for debriefing and learning after the exercise

Building a Culture of Intentionality

Encouraging intentional communication isn’t just for leaders. Teams also benefit from being mindful of how they come across. Facilitate training that helps employees recognise the impact of body language and tone. Activities like the Intention Party build awareness and skills in a fun, interactive way.

Casting the Right Shadow

Leadership expert Larry Senn coined the term "Shadow of the Leader" to describe how employees often mirror the behaviour of their leaders. If leaders are intentional in their communication, demonstrating clarity, openness, and respect, their teams are likely to follow. By learning to align their intentions with their actions, just as actors do, leaders can cast a shadow that inspires and uplifts rather than confuses or demotivates.

In the end, great leadership isn’t just about what you say. It’s about how you say it. Taking a cue from the world of acting, intentionality in communication can transform how leaders connect, inspire, and lead their teams.