"Gain self-confidence and assertiveness ... and purely enjoy"

“The Helen O’Grady Drama Academy supported a drama student, Danielle Jackson, over the years and I attended few of their annual productions ... awesome! Its definitely worth joining ... gain self confidence and assertiveness ... and purely enjoy ... have fun.” Sheryl Samuels, Cape Town

This beautiful quote shows that assertiveness is an indication of something many people lack in this world. The Wikipedia definition states that assertiveness is:

"the quality of being self-assured and confident without being aggressive. In the field of psychology and psychotherapy, it is a learnable skill and mode of communication.”

Helen O’Grady Drama Academy teaches this valuable interpersonal skill to both children and adults. To be assertive we are able to stand up to our own personal rights, being able to express these in direct but kind and honest way.

Being assertive means that we show understanding and empathy for other people, respecting their thoughts and feelings, their culture and their beliefs. This is one of the amazing aspects of international drama programme in teaching these skills. Mutual respect is an important part of the training and goes hand in hand with being assertive.

To be able to express how you feel or what you want with confidence is something we all need. Often kids at school are bullied because they don’t know how to stand up for themselves, or within the school they find putting themselves forward hard because of their shyness of lack of confidence, and this slows progress not only academically, but socially and psychologically as well.

Later in life, at work, to be assertive is a great asset and will help to further your career and also with your staff relations. Expressing yourself clearly and openly, with kindness and compassion, allows for a better work environment and greater understanding amongst colleagues.

People who are assertive are able to stand up for their rights when they are discriminated against and being able to apologise when mistakes are made - making for a much kinder society.

Being assertive also means to become a good listener. At the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy, we start from the age of 3 to train children how to listen to each other. The Kindergarten songs says: ‘Only one can speak at a time’ to encourage young children who are going their an ego-centric stage of development to learn to ‘hear’ the stories of the other children in the class.

Expressing thanks and appreciation is an important element in the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy training of assertiveness. Adults and children are expected to acknowledge constructively the work of others in the class and show appreciation where appropriate.

Probably one of the most important aspects of training in assertiveness is to learn self-control. We may have an opinion to express but the way we express has a bearing on the effectiveness of getting this across.  

So, as you see in the diagram being assertive is not being aggressive but getting what you want across but also listening to others but not being passive in your response. 

The Helen O’Grady Grady Drama Academy runs private drama studios throughout Cape Town to develop assertiveness for children and adults in the following areas: Camps Bay, Crawford, Hout Bay, Fish Hoek, Goodwood, Grassy Park, Newlands, Mitchell’s Plain, Plumstead, Rondebosch and Tokai.

Tel: 021 6747478

Facebook: www.facebook.com/helenogradycapetown
Website: www.dramaafrica.com