master n. (1.) a revered leader, (2.) an artist or performer of consummate skill (3.) One whose work serves as a model or ideal.

speaker n. (1.) one who speaks, educates, or trains.

Many people stand before audiences and speak, educate, or train. What qualities set master speaker apart? What aspects of character, what business practices, what habits, what attitudes, what stance, cause a speaker to be recognized as a master?

This pastiche is keyed in with no notes, no references. Just my gut. That's where my views are born. That's where your views are born. From your core, from your essence, from your deepest feelings. Let's see if you're able to agree with my gut convictions. The qualities and aspects of a master speaker are these:

1. Integrity: Without this sterling quality, nothing else matters. I mean being more than as good as your word. I mean living and breathing with bone-deep resolve that if you say it, you live it-regardless of cost.

This includes your accountabilities to each of your constituencies: decision-maker who hires you, client paying your fee, audience before which you're privileged to stand. Each expects value in return for their investment of faith or money or time in you.

2. In-depth research: Do you show up and deliver a standard shtick...the same piece you rolled out last week? The same piece you'll present next week somewhere else? If so, you're an actor, a performer, yes. Well and good. world needs you. And you're not a master speaker! The master speaker does adequate research. Every time.

Someone arranged for you to be there. Because you are one who knows. Because you can open their eyes. Because you can lead them to light.

Let's say you have technical know-how. Or industry-specific insights. Or a new idea, an approach, an insight, an attitude, a concept. Or a pastiche of all or any combination of above. A new wrinkle, a new approach that leads to breakthroughs. To ahas.

Or maybe you discovered a way of being, of doing that can lead this audience to having something they desire. Perhaps you can lead them to a deeper understanding of something they need to know.

Naomi Rhode calls it privilege of platform. And what a privilege you have as you stand there! Take a deep breath. You can influence, you can mold and shape a future yet unborn. Take another breath. Look at faces before you. This is your moment. This is moment you've worked so hard to be ready for.

When, in 1960, John F Kennedy spoke and said "We will send a man to moon and bring him safely back to earth-and we'll do it within 10 years!" he stirred his nation to believe it could be done.

When Abraham Lincoln spoke and delivered what we now commemorate as The Gettysburg Address, he awakened conscience of Western world.