Conducting a SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis is a useful tool in strategic future planning, as it helps you assess your current state and identify areas for improvement. You can identify your strengths and opportunities to leverage, as well as your weaknesses and threats to address. This can help you create a plan for action that will move you toward your desired future state.
Start internally by identifying your strengths and weaknesses. This can involve self-inspection and deep reflection, and it’s only worthwhile if you are honest with yourself! Then look externally to identify your opportunities and threats.
For further reading, here is more information on SWOT:
SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. A SWOT analysis is useful for future planning as you assess your current state and identify areas for improvement.
Strengths refer to the positive aspects of your current situation, such as skills, resources, and relationships, that can help you achieve your goals. My strengths are time management, networking, prioritization, punctuality, and cultural diversity.
Weaknesses are areas that need improvement, such as a lack of skills, limited resources, or negative relationships that can hinder your progress. My weaknesses are the following: I am harder on myself than I am on others. I expect others to perform at the same or higher level than me, which may not be feasible. I am a naturally introverted/forcibly extroverted person, so I sometimes have difficulty communicating. I like to get things done quickly, but sometimes I lack the patience needed to wait, depending on who I am working with and how they operate.
Opportunities are external factors, such as emerging trends, new technologies, or potential partnerships, that you can use to help you achieve your goals. I value different opportunities to collaborate with new people in new areas and with new communities.
Threats are external factors that can negatively impact your progress, such as competition, economic downturns, or changing regulations. For me, threats are our global adversaries, technological shutdowns, and regulations and policies that must be followed.
Get your journal and do two SWOT analyses: one for your personal role and one for your professional role. What did you learn? Are there overlaps? Can your two roles help each other? Who else can you help with your strengths? Who can help you with your weaknesses? How can you take advantage of your opportunities? How can you mitigate your threats?
Order your copy of The LOTUS Within where I cover the SWOT analysis and so much more to help you in your strategic planning, time management and prioritization.
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