There are several self-knowledge resources that have direct application in different levels of existence: work, love, friendship, entrepreneurship, conciliation, happiness... The personal SWOT is one of the tools used in the field of coaching. But anyone can do the introspection process in their own home. If you want to create a personal SWOT, you only need a pencil and paper. And, of course, time to complete it consciously.
The letters that make up the term SWOT present the structure that shapes the exercise. Keep in mind that through the analysis process, you make a detailed and honest list of weaknesses, threats, strengths and opportunities. Imagine that you want to achieve an important goal at work or in your personal life. Then, you have more possibilities of achieving the goal if you previously analyze what the context is where you are currently.
Have an objective description of the current state
Remember that there is a distance between the goal and the current reality. And one of the common mistakes is to analyze the present framework from a limited point of view. This is the case, for example, when you focus on the opportunities that a purpose poses. However, you ignore the obstacles that are going to occur in the process. And when they happen, you realize that you had not realistically assessed the situation.
The personal SWOT, therefore, is the method that helps you delve into the analysis of a situation from its holistic perspective. You not only contemplate the internal variables that influence the process, but also the external ingredients.
What are the elements that are part of the person's internal reality? The strengths and the weaknesses. It is important that you are aware of both. In this way, you can nurture and exercise those skills in which you excel. And, on the other hand, you recognize other weaknesses. Keep in mind that the human being has great potential, as exemplified by personal development and internal growth. But there are also limits that are part of the journey. Not all goals are feasible and achievable. And some weaknesses can be a major brake.
In addition to the internal variables of the human being, there are other external factors. Threats and opportunities intervene on the way to a goal. Threats group together those ingredients that can be inconvenient. Opportunities, on the other hand, are occasions that should be seized when they arise. The personal SWOT is done through a conscious writing process. In this way, when you finish detailing the strengths, threats, weaknesses and opportunities you have a context view. What is the personal SWOT for? First of all, to get to know yourself better. And it also provides practical information to make an action plan.
The SWOT analysis is dynamic and open
The SWOT analysis is an exercise that provides a description of a situation at a specific time. But keep in mind that this photograph can change over time. For example, a person can consciously focus on reducing the impact of a weakness. If the lack of knowledge of a subject is presented as a limit in the context of a SWOT analysis, a training process modifies that variable.
It is important that you be honest with yourself to add the data that you consider most relevant in the process of self-knowledge. In this way, you know where you are: you identify your position on the map. It is a key aspect to start moving towards the goal based on effective planning: one that starts from the current context to the definitive direction.