SWOT

• A SWOT matrix is is  an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
• It is a framework for analyzing your strengths and weaknesses as well as the opportunities and threats that you face.
• This helps you focus on your strengths, minimize your weaknesses, and take the greatest possible advantage of opportunities available to you.
• A SWOT analysis can be carried out for a company, product, place, industry, or person.
• IT is a structured planning method that evaluates those four elements of a person, an organization, and project or business venture.

Strengths

• characteristics of person or the business or project that give it an advantage over others
• What advantages do you have that others don’t have (for example, skills, certifications, education, or connections)?
• What do you do better than anyone else?
• What personal resources can you access?
• What do other people (and your boss, in particular) see as your strengths?
• Which of your achievements are you most proud of?
• What values do you believe in that others fail to exhibit?
• Are you part of a network that no one else is involved in? If so, what connections do you have with influential people?

Weaknesses

• characteristics of the business that place the business or project at a disadvantage relative to others
• What tasks do you usually avoid because you don’t feel confident doing them?
• What will the people around you see as your weaknesses?
• Are you completely confident in your education and skills training? If not, where are you weakest?
• What are your negative work habits (for example, are you often late, are you disorganized, do you have a short temper, or are you poor at handling stress)?
• Do you have personality traits that hold you back in your field? For instance, if you have to conduct meetings on a regular basis, a fear of public speaking would be a major weakness.

 Opportunities

• Elements in the environment that the business or project could exploit to its advantage
• What new technology can help you? Or can you get help from others or from people via the various media?
• Is your industry growing? If so, how can you take advantage of the current market?
• Do you have a network of strategic contacts to help you, or offer good advice?
• What trends (management or otherwise) do you see in your company, and how can you take advantage of them?
• Are any of your competitors failing to do something important? If so, can you take advantage of their mistakes?
• Is there a need in your company or industry that no one is filling?
• Do your customers or vendors complain about something in your company? If so, could you create an opportunity by offering a solution?

Threats

• Elements in the environment that could cause trouble for the person or the business or project
• What obstacles do you currently face at work?
• Are any of your colleagues competing with you for projects or roles?
• Is your job (or the demand for the things you do) changing?
• Does changing technology threaten your position?
• Could any of your weaknesses lead to threats?