Talents: leveraging SWOT for self-assessment.

Traditionally used to assess a company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, SWOT analysis can also be used for self-assessment. By applying this framework to self-assessment, everyone can gain an insight into their strengths, areas for improvement and development opportunities. Let’s see how using SWOT can pave the way to self-awareness, thoughtful career management and better job interviews.

The basics of personal SWOT :

Just as in a corporate strategy context, a SWOT analysis for self-assessment involves identifying internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats. How it works :

Strengths: these encompass the skills and achievements that set you apart and on which you can capitalize.

Weaknesses: these are areas where improvements are needed and proactive measures must be taken to eliminate or neutralize them.

Opportunities: these are external factors or situations that you can exploit to support your goals and aspirations and move forward.

Threats: these are external factors or obstacles that can hinder your progress or present risks to your objectives; you need to anticipate them.

The basic principles that apply to companies also apply to self-evaluation.

A SWOT analysis is only useful if you can evaluate yourself against your competitors. Competitors may be a better version of yourself, both in terms of skills or roles, your role model if you have one, or the requirements of an open position.

Your analysis must be supported by facts and translated into actionable items:

Facts and data fuel your self-assessment and avoid emotional or rational bias: can you provide concrete examples of your mastery of strategic thinking? Is the role of CEO an opportunity or just wishful thinking?

The plan must be based on measurable objectives, deadlines and dependencies: what metrics illustrate your desire to become more “visible”? Do you need to seize an opportunity that will make you more visible internally, or do you simply need to work on yourself to make a greater contribution to leadership meetings?

Personal SWOT steps :

Self-reflection: no need to answer a 360° survey or take a psychometric test. Set aside some time for introspection. Reflect on your personal and professional experiences, achievements and challenges. Identify the times when you shone and the times when you failed. Be honest with yourself about your real impact, both on successes and failures. Can you see patterns? Take the time to identify and understand what’s going on inside and outside your organization that can boost your career or backfire.

Strengths: draw up a complete list of your strengths. Narrow the list down to the top 5, including genius, i.e. what you’re particularly good at and do effortlessly. Decide which strengths you should maintain, exploit or improve in your current and future role. You can identify the strengths you overuse or over-rely on: they may be perceived as your trademark, but detrimental to your evolution.

Weaknesses: make an honest assessment of the areas in which you can improve and the habits that stand in the way of your progress. Decide which skills you need to compensate, reduce or correct. What are the 3 main weaknesses that are really hindering your career or that you sorely need to be eligible for promotion? Recognize that you can’t be good at everything. Focus on where you simply can’t be bad, neutralize that weakness and move to the middle.

Opportunities: consider potential avenues for growth, learning or advancement. How are you connected? Are you able to identify the signals that can have a positive impact on your initiatives or your career? Start with talent: is there a void created by a promoted or departing employee? Then move to market, offer and strategy: has a new product or project been launched? Are new geography about to be opened up or acquisitions planned? Any changes in resource allocation you could exploit?

Threats: identify external factors, challenges or obstacles that could jeopardize your personal goals or well-being. These can be economic downturns, competitive pressures or internal politics. Can you bend to your leader’s management style? Are there any changes in the existing power and political map that jeopardize your relationship? Or changes in resource allocation that could threaten your growth plan? What impact will AI have on the way you work?

The benefits of personal SWOT :

Completing a SWOT analysis is a simple exercise to assess your own competitive positioning and proactively managing your career. It can be used for :

Growth: use your SWOT to engage in constructive discussions with your manager and colleagues. Invite them to give their opinion on the 4 SWOT dimensions and challenge you on what you need to succeed.

Planning: the SWOT serves as a snapshot for prioritizing, anticipating and strategizing; it’s also a plan to be reviewed on a regular basis. Are you too busy? Your SWOT is the most effective way of assessing whether you’re stuck or on the right track when it comes to your priority: your professional development.

Better decisions: by taking internal and external factors into account, SWOT analysis enables you to make informed decisions in line with your personal and professional objectives. The 4 dimensions complement each other, making it easy to spot flaws in your assessment and decisions.

Dream jobs: SWOT analysis helps you better understand yourself. You may not be asked the dull question “what are your key strengths and weaknesses” during a recruitment process. However, your SWOT will enable you to be self-aware, ask relevant questions and proactively highlight areas where you’re the perfect fit or potential challenges.

Transforming SWOT analysis into a self-assessment toolbox can be a catalyst for personal development. By clarifying your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, you can chart your own course to success and fulfillment, and unleash your full potential.

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