Acting Intelligence™
The Human Advantage in an AI World
"For CEOs and Senior Leadership Teams because high-performing teams don’t just think well — they communicate brilliantly."
As Artificial Intelligence transforms how organisations process information, a new challenge is emerging:
Human performance is under pressure!
The solution is Acting Intelligence™ - delivering the human edge that technology can’t replicate.
Delivered by Chris Grimes, a professionally trained Actor, Coach and Facilitator reframing Leadership through the disciplined lens of Stagecraft — teaching Executives how to read the room, calibrate Presence more effectively, and turn strategy into aligned action.
This framework is energetic, interactive, insightful and immediately applicable to Senior Leadership Teams to:
Enable and encourage constructive challenge
Accelerate team cohesion
Raise the behavioural bar
Unwrap and address the AI 'elephant-in-the-room'
Turn decisions into execution
The Current Reality
At executive level bright, capable people are working hard, often in difficult circumstances. However:
- Pace of change is ever accelerating
- Difficulty keeping up
- Decisions are stalling
- There is uncertainty and a lack of clarity
- Alignment is 'polite' not authentic
- Avoidance and 'silo behaviour' is endemic
- Energy is leaking into politics
Leaders are leaving meetings with the same next steps and no decisive movement.
This pattern is eroding velocity and confidence.
Is this you...
The strategy is sound — but alignment feels patchy.
Smart people sit in the same room — yet still operate at cross purposes.
Meetings generate discussion — but not decisive action.
You repeat expectations more than you should have to.
You sense political undercurrents, but no one names them.
Performance is good — but not excellent!
Chris Grimes presenting to 130 Business Leaders in
San Francisco
Artificial Intelligence vs Acting Intelligence
AI processes information and improves systems. Acting Intelligence sharpens human behaviour and alignment. Both have value: One scales efficiency, the other scales performance. This is contemporary and collaborative — not anti‑AI — but it asserts a distinct, human-focused capability to deliver the Human Advantage in an AI world.
Artificial Intelligence
- Optimises systems
- Scales efficiency
- Predicts outcomes
Acting Intelligence
Optimises behaviour
Scales performance
Secures decisive action
Chris Grimes: Human, warm & connecting. No AI used in the production of this event or image :-)
The Method
Six performance disciplines, each actionable and outcome-focused. These are stagecraft principles refined for executive performance.
1. The Entrance — Emotional Weather Principle
Establish tone and emotional context so leaders enter with controlled presence that shapes the room.
2. The Read — 3-Layer Room Read
Rapidly assess group dynamics, power lines and readiness to ensure interventions hit their mark.
3. The Objective — Scene Objective
Define the clear, observable intention for each interaction so every meeting yields measurable progress.
4. The Delivery Arc — Performance Arc
Structure communication for clarity and momentum: open, develop, close — with behavioural anchors at each stage.
5. The Ensemble — Ensemble Standard
Set the team norm for behaviour so individuals align to collective standards and shared execution.
6. The Pivot — Live Moment
Respond rapidly and remain composed in unpredictable live moments that could derail critical decisions.
The Transformation
Clear, measurable shifts in behaviour and velocity. We convert latent capability into reliable performance.
Make the boat go faster.
"Why I work with Chris is that he transforms people. He turns people who can't communicate into people that can."
Tamar Hughes, Head of Learning & Development, Phoenix Group
Before
- Smart but misaligned
- Strategic but slow
- Operating at 70%
- Decisions left unexecuted
After
Aligned
Cohesive
Decisive
Operating at performance level
Why Chris Grimes
Performance engineering.
Chris Grimes combines 30+ years of professional acting, broadcasting, facilitation and executive coaching working at Board-level with organisations like JP Morgan, PwC, Barclays, Equinix, Marks & Spencer, COEO and Experian.
- Professional actor: presence, timing, truthful performance
- Broadcaster: clarity under pressure and audience control
- Facilitator: structured group calibration
- Executive coach: measurable behavioural change
"Wow! Chris was, hands down, the most energetic, effective, and inspiring Speaker that we have ever hired. In our post event survey, he scored a perfect 10 out of 10. Every single Presenter who went on stage after him until the end of the event on Friday afternoon referenced Chris and/or one of his lessons. I really can't say enough wonderful things about our experience with Chris. He was definitely the highlight of the entire event!"
Charles Reinhardt McGarvey, Equinix
Who This Is For / Not For
We pre-qualify to protect focus and results. This work is selective and for organisations that will commit to behavioural standards.
This is for
- CEOs and committed SLTs
- Organisations investing in leadership development
- Teams prepared to accept behavioural standards
- Leaders who need reliable, repeatable performance
This is not for
Casual interest without follow-through
Small teams not seeking systemic change
Motivational sessions without measurable calibration
Delivery Formats
Tailored formats for different organisational needs and stages of alignment.
Executive intensives — concentrated, measurable recalibration - 1:1 coaching or workshop groups (up to 12) - leadership retreats
SLT alignment workshops — shared standards and rehearsal - typically cohorts of 6-12
Communication calibration — language, cadence, and framing - larger group seminar or interactive talks
Ongoing executive coaching — embed and sustain behavioural change - with the option of coaching 'paths' for specific individuals
Book a confidential executive conversation
A focused, private conversation to assess fit, urgency and the expected performance uplift. No slides; clear next steps.