‘Good morning. This is your captain speaking’
Words of wisdom from Western Extension resident and the first woman pilot in South Africa to command long-range international flights, Captain Jane Trembath, was the special treat offered to guests at iThemba Rape and Trauma Support Centre's Ladies Tea, on December 3.
Jane, who spoke about powerful communication, devised the talk as an initiative to empower women as part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign.
“I initiated this project and asked my colleagues to support it, on the basis that we are empowered women who can help other women going through a disempowering time of their lives,” she said.
“I was gratified that we were able to raise thousands of rand for iThemba and make a difference in the community.”
Her presentation was structured around becoming “The Captain Speaking”, during which she compared communication to a plane.
Being a woman in a man’s world, Jane had to adjust her communication skills to be taken seriously.
“Men and women communicate differently,” she said.
“I learned how to say the same things, but in different ways,and rephrasing things made me more powerful.”
She set a few examples on how to rephrase thoughts.
“Try ‘I’m hurt that you didn’t phone and say you were late’, rather than ‘You’re late’,” she said.
She encouraged women to praise their children’s behaviour rather than the children, themselves.
“You should compliment your little one’s behaviour, otherwise they are under the impression that they are great and don’t have to work anymore, as opposed to if you compliment their deed, which will result in them knowing they have to keep on doing what they do to deserve acknowledgement,” she added.
She explained in which cases to use a passive, aggressive or assertion form of communication to achieve desired results.
She placed a large amount of emphasis on saying “no” and supported her statement with a few example scenarios.
“Find the power within you to say no,” she encouraged.
She also demonstrated methods of showing you are powerful, using your body language.
“Silence can be extremely powerful,” she said.
“Believe in your power; use your power and have the freedom to be the best you can be, just as God intended.”
The function was attended by staff from iThemba, East Rand Business Women, representatives of the University of Johannesburg, Home-Start and colleagues and friends of Jane, who enjoyed a cup of tea and cake together.
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