Contents show

Perform a SWOT Analysis on Your Life

One of the most important aspects of personal development planning is performing a SWOT analysis.

A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning technique used to help a person or organization identify Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

  • Strengths– This will include what you’re good at, what helps you move forward.  All your qualifications, resources, and positives you have going into this category for the area of life you’re working on.
  • Weaknesses – This part is critical.  You will build on your strengths, but you want to identify the gap so you can improve.  You can improve it by learning about it, or you can outsource (or delegate) that to someone else. What do you still need to learn, what do you want to be better at?  And don’t forget to identify anything you really dislike doing in that category?
  • Opportunities– Depending on the area of life you’re working through right now, you may want to note anything you see as a future opportunity. For example, if you are working on career development and you have identified the potential for internships or certifications that will help – note them.
  • Threats– Anything you have identified that is a stopper or roadblock to you archiving the goal that you have identified in that area of your life should be listed here. Whether it’s a killer app changing everything, a person you have no control over or something else, it’s important to note them.



What does a SWOT Analysis Achieve?

The point of this exercise is to get to the root of any roadblocks. Find out what is causing the weakness to start with and then work toward fixing that problem is the answer.

For example, if you cannot tell time, and you choose to work on time management, the first thing you need to tackle is learning to tell time.

A well-designed personal development plan will address your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in all areas of your life that you want to develop.

Your plan will identify your strengths so that you can improve them, your weaknesses are so that you can make up for them, and new opportunities, so you know when a door (or window) is open, as well as noting any roadblocks or threats along the way.

Recognize Development Areas

When you perform your SWOT in each area of your life, you will discover internal and external things that are blocking your success.

For example, you may hold the belief you’ll never have enough money to save for the future. Because of that, when you do get “extra” money, you tend to blow it right away on all the things you feel you missed out on before.

This is a limiting belief about money that a lot of people have because most people think money is a finite resource when it’s not. It’s man-made. Therefore, we can make more.

Developing SMART goals for your life in all areas of your life is one way to develop that clarity. Once you have it you can become more and more focused on taking the right steps to get there that you will also become more effective at realizing each success.


Use Your SWOT Analysis To Create A Personal Development Plan

Once you have made the decision to change your life, then you will need to create an action plan or pdp.

One of the most important areas that will benefit from using a SWOT  analysis is career development planning.  Professional Interview and Career coach Dawn Moss agrees that if you are truly committed to continuous development then a SWOT analysis is an ideal tool for you.

It is widely accepted that you are more likely to achieve your goals if you have a plan.  Your chances of success are even greater if you record the steps you need to reach your desired target.

By completing a SWOT analysis, you will have answered many of the questions and be ready to build your own personal development plan.