| "Once upon a time, I dreamed I was a butterfly | | | | quality). |
| fluttering hither and thither. Suddenly I awakened, | | | | For example, a wave on the ocean has an outward |
| and there I lay, myself again. Now I do not know | | | | form and appearance, which is the shape of the |
| whether I was then a man dreaming I was a | | | | wave that allows us to see it. On the other hand, the |
| butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming | | | | intrinsic nature and quality (water/wet/fluidity) of a |
| I am a man." ~ Chang Tzu | | | | wave is deeper in that it is the common essence of |
| Many public speakers use the title 'Transformational | | | | this wave, and all waves. An outer tranformation of |
| Speaker', as a way of informing their potential | | | | the wave would involve one of size/appearance |
| audiences of what they do and how they do it. | | | | shape. An intrinsic transformation of the wave would |
| Apart from having an impressive sounding title that | | | | involve a change of its nature, such as the realization |
| attempts to differentiate Transformational Speakers | | | | that it is made of water and is not separate from |
| from both Motivational Speakers and Inspirational | | | | the ocean (if that were possible). |
| Speakers, what is meant by the term | | | | With the unpacking of the Oxford's definitions above, |
| 'Transformational Speaker', and how are they | | | | and my own 15 year exploration of how and why |
| different? | | | | transformations happens, I will posit the following |
| If we can fairly assume that the task of a | | | | streamlined definition for 'Transformational Speaker': |
| Motivational Speaker is to motivate, and an | | | | A Transformational Speaker is one who attempts to |
| Inspirational Speaker is to inspire, is it safe to assume | | | | illicit a marked change in form, nature or appearance |
| the role of a Transformational Speaker is to | | | | in a human being. |
| transform? If so, what does that mean and how will | | | | Now that I have defined Transformational Speaker |
| they do it? | | | | at least in a preliminary way, I will share with you |
| A search on Google turned up 1100 hits for the exact | | | | why I call myself a Transformational Speaker. |
| term "Transformational Speaker", but after many | | | | Having studied the World's Wisdom Traditions for 15 |
| lengthy searches, I did not come across a clear | | | | years, I have been exposed to various methods of |
| definition of the title. That's not at all to say there is | | | | sharing understandings that attempt to point to a |
| not a clear definition out there, only that it's not very | | | | deeper truth, greater wisdom, or illicit a |
| obvious. With as many speakers as there are using | | | | transformation. This means I have had the privilege |
| the term, I would have imagined otherwise. | | | | of being introduced to a variety of perspectives |
| Because I am a Transformational Speaker, I am very | | | | (ways of seeing) and practices (ways of being) that |
| interested in how others in my field are using that | | | | have had the effect of transforming my fundamental |
| title. The purpose of this paper is to explore the | | | | understanding of what I am and what is real. |
| meaning of the title 'Transformational Speaker", what | | | | Of the ways I have been introduced to these |
| such a speaker would do, as well as why I make the | | | | understandings, none is more powerful and Life |
| claim of being a Transformational Speaker. | | | | altering than direct human contact with the source of |
| So, if we have to start from scratch somewhere, | | | | an understanding. Having studied a variety of |
| let's start here.... Oxford's Dictionary of English defines | | | | approaches to transformation that have a strong |
| 'transformational' as "relating to or involving a marked | | | | 'spoken word' component, such as Dzogchen, |
| change in form, nature or appearance". | | | | Hypnotherapy, Zen and Guided Meditation, I am |
| According to that definition, we should be able to | | | | familiar with the transformative power and potential |
| assume three things about a Transformational | | | | of words when they arise from clarity, presence and |
| Speaker. | | | | spaciousness. |
| First, they are, or can be, part of a marked change. | | | | A Transformational Speaker uses all dimensions of |
| Not a small change, but a potentially dramatic, drastic | | | | experience: the eyes, the stance, the gesture, the |
| or marked change. | | | | movement, the presence, the meaning, the |
| Second, the change can take place in a wide variety | | | | conviction, the affect, the radiance, the emphasis, |
| of ways, from the form/appearance of a thing | | | | the pace, the tone. |
| (outward shape) to the nature of a thing (intrinsic | | | | A Transformational Speaker, because they are |
| characteristics of a person or thing). This means that | | | | awake and plugged-in to the deeper dimensions of |
| transformation can occur on many levels, or manifest | | | | experience, are able to speak from and AS those |
| in many ways. | | | | dimensions of experience. |
| Third, according to this definition, the ways in which | | | | From here, the Transformational Speaker is able to |
| transformation can occur can be placed upon a | | | | invite the audience into their own depths, exposing |
| spectrum, from shallow/outer (outward form, shape | | | | subtler and more profound aspects of existence. |
| and appearance) to deep/inner (intrinsic nature and | | | | |