A SWOT analysis is a planning tool used to understand the key factors involved in a project or team environment, often used to help with a decision-making process for a variety of different situations.
SWOT Stands for:
A SWOT analysis can help you to understand what you're currently doing well, and what you could improve upon to potentially be more successful in the future, both as individuals and teams.
Strengths
Strengths are things that you d particularly well, things that distinguish you from others.
What are you doing well/better than anyone else?
How do your values drive what you do?
How do you know that you are successful in these areas?
What do others see as your strengths?
Weaknesses
Weaknesses are inherent features of yourself/your team. Focus on systems, people and procedures. Think about what you can do better and things that you might need to avoid.
What could you improve upon?
How do you think others view you/your team/your objectives?
Opportunities
Chances for something positive to happen, these may be more likely to arise from situations outside your team. Even small opportunities can help to improve situations or even save time.
What opportunities might be open to you?
What trends could you take advantage of?
Are there any resources that you haven't yet accessed?
How can you turn your strengths into greater opportunities?
What are others doing?
Threats
Threats include anything that can negatively impact what you do, for example resources available. Always consider what others are doing and how you could overcome any threats.
What threats could stop you doing what you want to do? (Time, resources, things out of your control)
What might stop you from achieving your objectives?
SWOT analysis tips
Be specific - the more focused you are the more useful it will be.
Work backwards - Experiment with filling in the 4 sections of your SWOT in a different order, working from threats to strengths can be particularly helpful.
Ask your team to fill in the SWOT independently, then come together to gather everyone's thoughts together and work as a team to forward plan.
Personal SWOT analysis
You can also carry out a personal SWOT analysis to review your professional development and determine how to best take advantage of your talents,, abilities and opportunities.
Strengths
What are you doing well/better than anyone else?
What are you good at?
What aspects of your work do you enjoy most?
What skills, knowledge or experience do you have that will be most useful in your chosen career?
How do you know that you are successful in these areas?
What do others see as your strengths?
Weaknesses
What aspects of your work do you feel that you struggle with?
What do you not enjoy?
Wht gaps in skills, knowledge or experience are there?
What gaps will you need to address to fulfill new opportunities? (career progression)
What would you like to imp
Opportunities
Individual opportunities could be engaging in different professional development, being involved in secondments, projects or shadowing a colleague.
What opportunities might be open to you?
Could you engage with a coach or mentor?
Does the organisation offer the opportunity for you to follow your desired career?
Threats
Consider work based and personal obstacles and how you might overcome them.
When will you be ready?
When will the organisation be ready?
Is the budget available?
What might stop you from achieving your objectives? (Time, resources, things out of your control)
SWOT analysis isn't perfect, but it will give you a good grounding of the areas that you need to consider. Have a go and see if it works for you.
Reflection
What have you learned or found most useful on this page?
Try a SWOT analysis to plan your own career path or with your team to develop a plan for the future.
