You know you are dealing with a professional speaker who has his or her act together if they are accessible, responsive, have prepared the necessary materials to help make your job easier, and give you the sense that they want to craft their message for your group. Here are five more signs:

1. They have professional presentation materials. Today's professional speaker often uses sophisticated presentation software to create audiovisual materials that are easy to read and understand, pleasing to the eye, and right on target for his or her message. It makes perfect sense to ask to see a speaker's presentation materials in advance. This will give you both an opportunity to discuss and agree on what your audience will see before the meeting.

2. They plan to arrive well in advance. It might be semi-comforting to retain a speaker who's very busy. After all, if many other groups are hiring this speaker, he or she must be good, right? Not necessarily. If the speaker doesn't plan to arrive the night before or at least two to three hours in advance of the presentation, watch out. The most professional speakers arrive in advance, work out the room logistics, meet with the production and audiovisual staff, walk the room, and give the equipment a test run.

3. They never deliver off-the-shelf programs. Today, audiences expect customized presentations, even when the topic is as generic as management, leadership, or stress. The speaker has to take time to understand their audience and the challenges they face. The true professional speaker will spend more time asking you about your audience than conveying the essence of his or her message, at least at the outset. Be wary of any speaker who claims to have just the right message but who does not ask you a lot of questions.

4. They respect your audience members. There may be some allure or mystery surrounding a speaker who doesn't interact with audience members prior to the speech. Increasingly, however, attendees want to see the speaker as a fellow professional, a certified member of the human race, and someone who is accessible. Is your speaker willing to meet with audience members prior to his or her actual presentation? If they'll be attending your conference or convention, are they willing to rub elbows with members or staff in the hallways, at other meeting events, just prior to going on stage, and afterwards, if time permits?

The functionally competent, oratorically stirring speaker who is aloof to your audience before and after presenting does not win over hearts and minds in the way that the fully engaging, personable, and approachable speaker does. If it is important for your group to have the opportunity to interact with the speaker, make sure you make this request early and that the speaker you are considering is receptive to that idea.

5. They engender within you a sense of confidence that all will turn out well. By their preparation and genuine interest in your group, they have demonstrated that they are committed to delivering a presentation that is right on target.

Jeff Davidson, MBA, CMC, helps organizations and individuals overcome the relentless burden of information and communication overload. He can be reached at www.BreathingSpace.com.

These tips should be used for informational purposes and not be considered legal advice.

The National Speakers Association (NSA) is the leading educational organization for professional speakers. NSA's 3,500 members include experts in a variety of industries and disciplines, who reach audiences as trainers, educators, humorists, motivators, consultants, authors, and more. As a service to meeting professionals, NSA provides resources and information on finding and working with speakers. Please visit NSA's Web site at www.nsaspeaker.org.