WEBVTT 00:00:23.719 --> 00:00:25.600 everybody welcome back this is food for thought 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:28.320 thoughts fit for you this is your host neogentrics 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:31.420 last time we covered what a basic SWOT analysis 00:00:31.420 --> 00:00:34.539 is and how businesses use it and its general 00:00:34.539 --> 00:00:37.899 purposes and today i'm going to go ahead and 00:00:37.899 --> 00:00:41.579 talk about the personal SWOT analysis which is 00:00:41.579 --> 00:00:43.600 essentially similar to the same thing but now 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:45.079 we're talking about on a personal level on how 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:48.750 you can use it so Again, like I mentioned before, 00:00:48.909 --> 00:00:51.750 SWOT analysis is the examination of your situation 00:00:51.750 --> 00:00:54.310 by looking at your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, 00:00:54.590 --> 00:00:57.350 and threats. It has been used by businessmen 00:00:57.350 --> 00:00:59.990 for years as a strategic planning tool because 00:00:59.990 --> 00:01:02.429 it helps you to give an all -around view of your 00:01:02.429 --> 00:01:07.010 organization as a whole. However, SWOT analysis 00:01:07.010 --> 00:01:11.609 are equally useful on a personal level as a way 00:01:11.609 --> 00:01:14.510 to identify areas for development and as part 00:01:14.510 --> 00:01:18.189 of career discussions. It's simple format, easy 00:01:18.189 --> 00:01:21.049 to apply structure, means that it can be used 00:01:21.049 --> 00:01:26.530 very easily without support. In summary, Swan 00:01:26.530 --> 00:01:28.269 Mouses is a way of looking at your situation 00:01:28.269 --> 00:01:31.250 by identifying, one, your strengths or those 00:01:31.250 --> 00:01:33.150 areas where you have an advantage over others 00:01:33.150 --> 00:01:35.989 or some unique resource that you can exploit. 00:01:36.329 --> 00:01:40.069 Your weaknesses, an area where you may be weaker 00:01:40.069 --> 00:01:42.030 than others or may find that others are better 00:01:42.030 --> 00:01:45.959 than you. Opportunities. Possibilities that you 00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:47.680 can take advantage of to help you achieve your 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:51.140 goals and ambitions. And threats. Things that 00:01:51.140 --> 00:01:54.099 may prevent you from making a profit or achieving 00:01:54.099 --> 00:01:57.500 your goals. Okay? That's essentially the basics 00:01:57.500 --> 00:02:01.680 of a SWOT analysis. Okay? Next, we'll talk about 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:05.079 the personal SWOT analysis. And then after that, 00:02:05.099 --> 00:02:23.080 we'll cover the SWOT process. So, a personal 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:27.960 SWOT analysis. A personal SWOT analysis is very 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:30.419 similar to one for business, except that you 00:02:30.419 --> 00:02:36.259 focus on yourself and your goals. A personal 00:02:36.259 --> 00:02:38.620 SWOT analysis, however, may be more useful if 00:02:38.620 --> 00:02:40.539 you focus on a specific goal or problem that 00:02:40.539 --> 00:02:43.000 you want to address. This is because we all have 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:46.219 a number of very diverse goals. The skills and 00:02:46.219 --> 00:02:48.379 attributes that may help us towards one's goal 00:02:48.379 --> 00:02:52.590 may be... irrelevant or even a weakness in other 00:02:52.590 --> 00:02:55.969 contexts a threat in one context could be unimportant 00:02:55.969 --> 00:02:58.050 in another it just depends on how you look at 00:02:58.050 --> 00:03:04.990 it okay as such you can use it therefore in a 00:03:04.990 --> 00:03:07.430 wide variety of different circumstances based 00:03:07.430 --> 00:03:11.870 off of what you're using it so to begin with 00:03:11.870 --> 00:03:15.409 the SWOT process number one I want you to identify 00:03:15.409 --> 00:03:17.719 the goal that you want to achieve If you can't 00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:19.800 do this, there's no point in moving forward any 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:22.219 further. It's important to be as specific as 00:03:22.219 --> 00:03:24.740 possible and be clear about the timing, that 00:03:24.740 --> 00:03:27.719 is, when you wish to achieve your goal and also 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:30.340 how much or how you will know when you have achieved 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:33.340 it, such as your success criteria, if you will. 00:03:35.979 --> 00:03:39.120 If you have not identified any goals, you should 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:42.979 probably do so as soon as possible. Now, if you 00:03:42.979 --> 00:03:44.840 need help with that, I have a podcast covering 00:03:44.840 --> 00:03:47.370 setting personal goals. If I haven't already 00:03:47.370 --> 00:03:49.650 made one, please look forward to it coming out 00:03:49.650 --> 00:03:52.770 as soon as possible to help you all out with 00:03:52.770 --> 00:03:55.449 moving forward from this point forward. Now, 00:03:55.550 --> 00:03:59.590 thinking specifically about that goal, number 00:03:59.590 --> 00:04:03.370 two would be identifying the personal strengths 00:04:03.370 --> 00:04:11.210 that will help you to achieve it. And the weaknesses 00:04:11.210 --> 00:04:16.029 that could also prevent you from doing it. Now, 00:04:16.550 --> 00:04:18.810 It's often helpful to consider knowledge, skills, 00:04:19.089 --> 00:04:21.029 experience, resources, and support that you have 00:04:21.029 --> 00:04:23.189 available. If you list these headings separately, 00:04:23.389 --> 00:04:26.189 you will remember to consider all of these. So 00:04:26.189 --> 00:04:27.509 it's important to write down what you're trying 00:04:27.509 --> 00:04:29.589 to do on paper so you can have a look at what 00:04:29.589 --> 00:04:31.110 you're doing rather than trying to keep it in 00:04:31.110 --> 00:04:33.610 your head. These areas are generally internal. 00:04:33.870 --> 00:04:36.430 That is, they relate to you on a personal note 00:04:36.430 --> 00:04:38.370 and the resources and skills that are available 00:04:38.370 --> 00:04:42.449 to you as well. There are, therefore, things 00:04:42.449 --> 00:04:45.149 that are generally under your control and then 00:04:45.149 --> 00:04:48.949 things that are not. A key fact to note is that 00:04:48.949 --> 00:04:51.089 kick -starting your self -analysis requires you 00:04:51.089 --> 00:04:55.029 to do a few things in order to get started. However, 00:04:55.189 --> 00:04:57.449 if you find this process difficult, you may want 00:04:57.449 --> 00:05:01.370 to take an interpersonal self -assessment skill 00:05:01.370 --> 00:05:04.589 test in order to give you an idea of your strengths 00:05:04.589 --> 00:05:09.000 and weaknesses. This may be useful as a starting 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:11.519 point for further thinking, but it will not aid 00:05:11.519 --> 00:05:14.040 you in the entire process. It will revolve around 00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:17.879 you still having to do some kind of work. Now, 00:05:17.959 --> 00:05:21.360 third, I need you to identify any personal opportunities 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:24.560 that can enable you to achieve the goal and also 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:27.980 that will be able to take advantage of when you 00:05:27.980 --> 00:05:30.500 have achieved the goal that you're attempting 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:34.120 to reach. Opportunities are generally external 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:38.259 things to keep in mind. OK, relating to the environment 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:40.540 and those around you rather than yourself. They 00:05:40.540 --> 00:05:44.300 include things such as, oh, I don't know, promotions 00:05:44.300 --> 00:05:48.319 and financial incentives or events that are likely 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:50.480 to happen at work or outside, you know, such 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:53.759 as going to going on maternity leave, sabbatical, 00:05:53.819 --> 00:05:55.740 things of that nature, something that you would 00:05:55.740 --> 00:05:58.920 be considered new. OK, and identifying those 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:01.139 opportunities, it opens up a result of achieving 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:04.660 your goal, considerable short and long term benefits 00:06:04.660 --> 00:06:07.319 as well. It's just something to keep in mind. 00:06:07.860 --> 00:06:11.680 Next, identify any threats. These are external 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:15.120 things and events that are worrying you or that 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:18.060 might happen or prevent you from achieving your 00:06:18.060 --> 00:06:22.680 goal either way or taking advantage of the benefits. 00:06:23.459 --> 00:06:27.959 You don't want to have threats, but if you have 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:30.439 some, they're actually really useful in moving 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:33.139 forward as they give you something to work with 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:37.980 or around. to improve your chances. Then last 00:06:37.980 --> 00:06:42.639 but not least, review and prioritize. With this 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:46.180 being said, as always with development activities, 00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:50.000 you need strategic thinking. It's a good idea 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:52.019 to review your analysis and ask yourself the 00:06:52.019 --> 00:06:55.779 two following questions. I'm sorry, three questions. 00:06:55.860 --> 00:06:59.279 There are three questions. Is this recognizably 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:04.050 me after... you've achieved your goal or you're 00:07:04.050 --> 00:07:07.110 about to achieve your goal. Next, is there anything 00:07:07.110 --> 00:07:09.930 that I may have forgotten? Because you always 00:07:09.930 --> 00:07:11.790 want to ask yourself that. And then last but 00:07:11.790 --> 00:07:14.110 not least, which areas are most important in 00:07:14.110 --> 00:07:16.449 each of the four categories in this analysis 00:07:16.449 --> 00:07:20.189 for me to focus on? Try to highlight at least 00:07:20.189 --> 00:07:23.439 one or two. Things that from each of... strengths, 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:25.100 weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that you 00:07:25.100 --> 00:07:27.019 think would be most important in achieving or 00:07:27.019 --> 00:07:29.759 preventing you from achieving your goal, and 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:31.839 then make those areas your main priorities for 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:51.939 action. Alright? Alright, so, in closing, Using 00:07:51.939 --> 00:07:55.459 a personal SWOT analysis. It's a very useful 00:07:55.459 --> 00:07:58.339 tool in working out what you want to get from 00:07:58.339 --> 00:08:00.879 mentoring or anything else. It is also, however, 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:05.660 much more widely applicable and you can use it 00:08:05.660 --> 00:08:07.639 to help you analyze any personal development 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:10.000 or learning situation. Going through this process 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:11.920 for particular goals and or problems that you 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:14.600 face enables you to identify which areas are 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:16.860 really bothering you and where you need to focus 00:08:16.860 --> 00:08:19.629 your attention. You can use this process for 00:08:19.629 --> 00:08:23.350 each and every goal, but it may be more helpful 00:08:23.350 --> 00:08:26.069 to use it only when you find a problem particularly 00:08:26.069 --> 00:08:29.310 challenging. It is effectively a way of ordering 00:08:29.310 --> 00:08:32.250 your thinking and helping you to see the problem 00:08:32.250 --> 00:08:37.970 in a slightly different way. So let me take this 00:08:37.970 --> 00:08:41.049 into a thought for you guys. A personal SWOT 00:08:41.049 --> 00:08:43.690 analysis can be done on your own. First off. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:45.659 You don't really need anyone's help, though. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:48.419 You can always do so. However, it is worth bearing 00:08:48.419 --> 00:08:52.620 in mind that a business SWOT analysis is stronger 00:08:52.620 --> 00:08:55.899 if it draws on evidence from outside the organization, 00:08:56.139 --> 00:08:58.559 such as independent market research or views 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:02.659 from customers. But in that way, in the same 00:09:02.659 --> 00:09:04.700 way, a personal SWOT analysis is likely to be 00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:06.779 more powerful if you draw on the views of others, 00:09:06.919 --> 00:09:09.320 particularly friends and or relatives, and then 00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:10.919 filter through the information they give you 00:09:10.919 --> 00:09:14.159 instead of just taking it all by heart. If, for 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:17.779 example, you're part of a learning group at work 00:09:17.779 --> 00:09:21.480 or at college or university, you can agree to 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:24.059 go through the process for each other in turn. 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:28.419 You can even gather evidence from each other's 00:09:28.419 --> 00:09:30.720 colleagues to support the analysis just so you 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:33.159 have claim to what you're trying to do. If you're 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:36.559 doing this by yourself, you may want to ask friends 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:38.279 or colleagues their views on your strengths and 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:40.620 weaknesses or ask them to comment on your first 00:09:40.620 --> 00:09:44.529 draft analysis. give some suggestions remember 00:09:44.529 --> 00:09:48.309 both good and bad criticism is helpful while 00:09:48.309 --> 00:09:50.730 bad criticism is stuff that you typically do 00:09:50.730 --> 00:09:53.509 not wish to hear and good criticism is usually 00:09:53.509 --> 00:09:56.049 around the same area but it's usually something 00:09:56.049 --> 00:09:58.909 to help you improve they both generally allow 00:09:58.909 --> 00:10:02.850 you to see where you're strong and weak at if 00:10:02.850 --> 00:10:07.009 not bluntly in some cases be aware that doing 00:10:07.009 --> 00:10:10.250 this may cost you to be up front with some of 00:10:10.250 --> 00:10:12.470 your peers And you may have to open yourself 00:10:12.470 --> 00:10:14.710 up a little bit to receive this information. 00:10:15.629 --> 00:10:18.370 Otherwise, being restrictive into what you want 00:10:18.370 --> 00:10:20.669 to hear and only hearing that can prevent you 00:10:20.669 --> 00:10:23.149 from utilizing this to its fullest and allowing 00:10:23.149 --> 00:10:27.269 yourself to grow and improve. So, any final thoughts 00:10:27.269 --> 00:10:29.190 on the SWOT analysis for personal development? 00:10:29.710 --> 00:10:32.350 Well, like any personal development process, 00:10:32.809 --> 00:10:35.830 the SWOT analysis is not something that you want 00:10:35.830 --> 00:10:39.090 to do every single day. I can tell you from experience. 00:10:39.690 --> 00:10:43.190 It's a draining, draining thing to do. Don't 00:10:43.190 --> 00:10:46.169 do it. But if you are finding a particular problem 00:10:46.169 --> 00:10:50.169 is very intractable or inaccessible, or that 00:10:50.169 --> 00:10:52.610 you're really struggling to know where to start 00:10:52.610 --> 00:10:55.470 with a goal, it may be a useful way of ordering 00:10:55.470 --> 00:10:57.370 your thinking and giving you a different perspective 00:10:57.370 --> 00:11:01.409 on the problem that you're trying to solve. Okay? 00:11:01.470 --> 00:11:05.269 Keep this in mind. The SWOT analysis, while simple 00:11:05.269 --> 00:11:08.679 and effective, It's only useful if you truly 00:11:08.679 --> 00:11:12.080 wish to utilize it to its fullest and you're 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:14.940 really willing to receive the information that 00:11:14.940 --> 00:11:18.440 you're getting, whether from you, someone else, 00:11:18.519 --> 00:11:20.779 your boss, your friend, your uncle, or your girlfriend 00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:23.419 or your spouse. It doesn't matter who. Because 00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:25.480 typically the information coming in is not always 00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:27.879 going to be positive. Expect negative feedback, 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:31.860 but take it with a grain of salt. Write everything 00:11:31.860 --> 00:11:34.120 down. Don't write down the person who said it. 00:11:34.179 --> 00:11:36.600 Write down everything, good and bad. Then take 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:38.799 it back and look at it and analyze everything. 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:41.460 When you take away the person who said what, 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:43.679 it makes it a lot easier to analyze where the 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:45.960 problems are. But you have to be honest with 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:49.100 yourself. You need to know this is where I'm 00:11:49.100 --> 00:11:51.059 faulty at. This is where I'm weak at. This is 00:11:51.059 --> 00:11:53.500 what I don't know. And this is what I need to 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:56.399 improve. Whether it be relationship -wise, your 00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:58.860 personality, how you treat people, it doesn't 00:11:58.860 --> 00:12:00.860 matter. If you're looking for help with those, 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:02.820 I think I covered them in a podcast previously. 00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:05.940 So feel free to go back through my previous podcast 00:12:05.940 --> 00:12:08.059 for personal development. I'll be covering more 00:12:08.059 --> 00:12:11.840 topics in the future, but, and as well as business 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:15.940 skills. However, I want to make sure I make this 00:12:15.940 --> 00:12:19.500 note clear. All right. I want to thank you guys 00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:21.200 for listening. This has been food for thought 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:22.879 thoughts. If it were you, this is your host Neo 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:26.320 Gentrix signing out on personal SWOT analysis 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:29.220 for personal skills. Tune in next time. We'll 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:32.120 be talking about dealing with failure. Enjoy 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:32.840 the rest of your day.