Coaching for Speakers

Speakers. . . 

Skilled public speaking is a set of techniques. Anyone who is motivated can learn them. After overcoming my own terror (no, I’m not exaggerating) of public speaking by learning these skills, I fell in love with teaching others how to do the same.

I coach speakers both in person, and via video-chat technology like Skype or Zoom.

These skills are important for:

  • Writers and artists
  • Activists, fundraisers, and educators
  • Politicians
  • Those who want to create TED Talks or provide keynote addresses
  • Anyone who wants to speak with confidence, connection, and authenticity to audiences of any size

In workshops and in one-on-one coaching I offer clients the opportunity to:

  • Manage and often overcome their fears of public speaking
  • Launch their books, projects, and businesses with a confident, authentic voice
  • Discuss their passions with authenticity and impact
  • Use a simple storytelling structure to design their content efficiently, and tailored to their goals and specific audiences
  • Engage listeners by creating memorable content and meaningful connection to listeners
  • Prepare to participate on panels, in media interviews, and other “conversational” presentations
  • Adapt their content for workshops or conference talks
  • Speak comfortably in virtual environments: conference calls, video, and audio presentations
  • Handle challenging questions and strong opposition from listeners by defending their position without getting defensive
  • Master the use of visuals like PowerPoint or whiteboards to enhance their message, rather than compete with it
  • Learn to value being “present” over being “perfect” so that authentic connections are made with listeners

Hear Me Speak!

Take a moment to read the background on my story “In Search of the Silver Cup” and then listen to a clip of me reading my story in the video below.

This reading took place at theThis is My Brave event held in Los Angeles in the fall of 2015.  The story appears in the anthology, Shades of Blue.

Clients

Testimonials. . . 

Betsy Fasbinder is a present, committed, and patient speaking coach who knows how to translate what it takes to deliver a powerful message to a big audience. Her support and guidance were invaluable in preparation for my TEDx talk, and my presentation benefited tremendously from her direction and expertise.

—Brooke Warner, TEDx speaker and publisher of She Writes Press

These tools and skills moved me from amateur to professional, intimidated to confident, and helped me to clarify the message of my book so that I was able to enjoy a book launch that exceeded my dreams.

—Catherine Marshall-Smith, Author of American Family

Betsy has a way of making public speaking be less foreign and more fun. She gives you intuitive tools that are memorable and easy, and she makes the process enjoyable as well. In one session, I felt immediately improved and infinitely more poised. 

—Kate Perry, Internationally Bestselling Author

Working with Betsy gave me the tools and the self-confidence I needed for a successful book launch. Even though I’m an introvert, I was able to relax, present well, and most importantly, have fun in a crowd of people. Betsy made a big difference in an important part of my life—and I’m recommending her to everyone I know.

—Laurie McAndish King, Author, Lost, Kidnapped, Eaten Alive! True stories from a curious traveler

I am an adjunct professor in the architectural programs at University of California, Berkeley and Cal Poly University. Betsy provided workshops to my students. Betsy’s workshops are engaging, hands (or perhaps I should say, voices) on, and fun.  She never lectures, but rather involves the students in a series of exercises that illustrate her different approaches to successful verbal presentation skills. The students enjoyed these sessions, but more importantly, truly learned from them. Their improvement, even after only one workshop was very evident.

—Mark Schatz, FAIA, architect

Betsy practices what she teaches.  In less than an hour at our Barrett-Koehler Authors’ Conference, she taught me that every time I talk about my book, I’m already public speaking.  She taught that pausing can be a powerful skill that adds calm and credibility to every talk.  Less may be more, and I left wanting more lessons from Betsy.

—Andrea Goeglein, PhD

Attending a workshop by Betsy Graziani Fasbinder is like taking a master class in communication. Every single presentation I’ve attended has taught me something I didn’t expect, and, more importantly, been of huge benefit to my own presentation style and process. Whether instructing on public speaking or diving deep into the psychological depths of characters, I know a few hours with Betsy will enhance my creative process to no end.

—Anna J. Steward, National & USA Today Bestselling Author

The coaching Betsy Graziani Fasbinder expertly gave me has proven invaluable to my success as a speaker before audiences both large and small.  She’ll make you laugh and cry and most of all she’ll teach you the tools necessary to take any stage with confidence and courage.

—Christie Nelson

I needed to practice a storytelling performance that I was nervous about, but by the end of my coaching time with Betsy, I felt positive, excited and confident. She taught me how to take my performance to a whole new level. She explained things in an easy to understand way. She was knowledgable and very generous with her time and energy. I would highly recommend Betsy to anyone wanting to learn to speak in public, whether you are a beginner or have been doing it for a while.

—Claire Hennessy,  Storyteller and humor writer

I attended Betsy Graziani Fasbinder’s 2-day workshop on public speaking for writers.  I had been feeling overwhelmed about my impending book launch, and now I have the sense that I can do this, and that it may even be fun!  It feels so good to have a roadmap to help me through it. I am so grateful that I took the time out from my busy schedule to learn the models for preparing content as well as polishing up my delivery style. I am looking forward to putting what I learned into practice. 

—Ilene English, Author of Hippie Chicks

From Page to Stage:
Inspiration, Tools, and Simple Public Speaking Tips for Writers

In this accessible, straightforward book, seasoned author Betsy Graziani Fasbinder offers readers the why, what, and how of public speaking, along with exercises and resources to support ongoing learning.

She provides inspiration and encouragement to help writers to overcome their fears of public speaking, but she doesn’t stop there; she also lays out the practical, nuts-and-bolts tools they need to select, deselect, and arrange the content of what to say when they’re on a podium, in an interview, or in casual conversations about their writing, and includes a model for handling challenging questions from interviewers and audience members with confidence and grace. 

Writers, before speaking in front of an audience, first, do the exercises in From Page to Stage. Betsy Graziani Fasbinder offers rich support and guidance to writers preparing book talks to attract readers.

—Martha Alderson, author of The Plot Whisperer

If you want to speak as powerfully as you write, this book is for you.  The perfect guide to help you kick ass when you have to put pants on and speak to the public.

—Kate Perry, internationally best-selling romance and suspense author

These tools and skills moved me from amateur to professional, intimidated to confident, and helped me to clarify the message of my book so that I was able to enjoy a book launch that exceeded my dreams.

—Catherine Marshall-Smith, author of American Family

Like it or not, speaking is part of the author’s overall marketing toolbox. With her new book From Page to Stage, Betsy Graziani Fasbinder offers excellent advice for becoming a better advocate for your book, whether on the stage, at an in-person reading, or on a podcast interview.

—Anne Janzer

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Autographed Copy

Want your own autographed copy of Betsy's books? Please place your order with Book Passage and Betsy will sign your copy. Please be sure to indicate to whom the inscription should read in the order comments section.

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