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How to make a personal SWOT analysis

The SWOT analysis is especially remembered by those who have completed some higher education, and some even had to do with it since high school, but from a business point of view.

Learn in this article what is the personal SWOT analysis, what is its importance, and also how to do this self-analysis correctly.

How to make a personal SWOT analysis
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Table of Contents

What is a SWOT analysis?

When we talk about a SWOT analysis, which in some cases is also known as a SWOT matrix, we are referring to a study tool that is mainly used with the intention of knowing the situation in companies, institutions, projects, and even people.

In general, this type of study is present at the professional level when working to achieve degree levels. It is the first approach that many people have to what this technique is. However, it can be used in many aspects of daily life.

The personal SWOT analysis is born from the need to be able to evaluate ourselves as individuals.

Where it is not a matter of leisure, but more a matter of knowing what aspects we enjoy and those which we have the responsibility to change or improve them in order to plan a better future.

Young woman thinking

Why make a personal SWOT analysis?

We begin to recognize the importance of the personal SWOT analysis from the moment we realize that it is a tool that makes self-analysis much easier, as well as the establishment of a strategic plan that serves within one’s professional career.

Although it is a planning technique that is mostly used within the business environment, it is also very useful when applied within the personal context since it allows the analysis of the strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats of the person who has done it.

This makes the personal SWOT analysis serve as a turning point in the achievement of individual goals, allowing a better understanding of what the current reality will be in the future as a basis for the approach of courses of action to help achieve the objectives.

How to make a personal SWOT analysis?

In order to help you use this self-analysis tool correctly, we have provided a step-by-step guide on how to make a detailed personal SWOT analysis with all the questions you should ask yourself to determine your strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats in a simple way.

Step 1: Determine your strengths

It is important for you to recognize that we all have talents and gifts, but for this we require a practice of deep self-knowledge so that we can identify them correctly and develop them in the best possible way.

In this first step of how to make a personal SWOT analysis the important thing is that you take the time to highlight all those areas that help distinguish you. That is, your qualities and skills.

If this is something you have never taken into account before, it is understandable that it may be a bit complex, but to help you in your self-recognition there are the following questions:

  • What innate talents do I possess?
  • In what activities am I able to excel?
  • In what ways do I stand out to my team?
  • What are the advantages that I have? (this includes the degree of study, awards, certifications, contacts you have, among others).
  • What resources do I have?

As you honestly answer the 5 questions above, you will complete this first element of a personal SWOT analysis.

Step 2: Find your weaknesses

Young woman with doubtful face, skyscrapers in the background

This is the part of how to make a personal SWOT analysis where you need to look at yourself from a critical eye. Always starting from the premise that there is nothing wrong with having weaknesses, since nobody is perfect.

The good news is that when we are able to recognize our weaknesses we are also gaining the opportunity to improve in this regard. But in order to do so, it is necessary that we take the time to discover in which things we have deficiencies, or in which aspects we fail.

So, to help you in this process of self-recognition we have come up with the following questions:

  • What are the traits of my personality that I might consider negative?
  • What are those habits that I want to eradicate from my life?
  • What aspects could I consider as my main defects?
  • What are the weaknesses that have been pointed out to me by bosses or co-workers?
  • What are the tasks that I often avoid because I don't feel confident doing them or because I don't like them at all?

Once you have answered with confidence then you will have completed this which is the second of the elements necessary to assemble a personal SWOT analysis.

Step 3: Distinguish your opportunities

Within how to make a personal SWOT analysis is to know how to distinguish opportunities. And it is also to recognize that these always exist for those people who are willing to evolve and grow.

So, what is being asked of you right now is to be able to recognize those external factors, as well as all the growing trends, so that you can use them to your advantage in your life.

Again, we have generated a series of questions that we believe to be accurate so that you will be able to distinguish what your opportunities are:

  • What are the careers, fields and industries, which relate to me, and are growing?
  • Based on my career, what new technology and innovation could be beneficial to me?
  • Is the industry I am in growing well, or would I find more opportunity if I moved to another industry?
  • Are there any gaps in the market that I am able to fill?
  • What are the contacts that would be beneficial to me if I had them?

Once you have managed to answer these five questions, you will have completed the third element of a personal SWOT analysis.

Step 4: Recognize threats

To close with how to make a personal SWOT analysis we need to be able to recognize our threats, and these are nothing more than all those elements which we are not able to control.

To help you get a clearer idea of what we are talking about, you can take as an example a financial downturn that is due to an economic recession, or that has been caused by a natural disaster.

However, these are issues that can be anticipated by assessing the current situation so that proactive decisions can be made. The key in this case is to recognize the main challenges and manage them calmly and efficiently.

To help you close your personal SWOT analysis successfully, we have prepared a series of questions that will make you reflect on the possible threats in your environment:

  • What is it that is hindering my work progress or preventing me from achieving my goals?
  • What are the factors that are currently being experienced in the economic field?
  • What are the elements capable of intervening in the economy of my locality, or of my country?
  • Are technological changes capable of harming the situation I live in today?
  • What is the profile of my colleagues who are competing for the same position as me?

Once you have completed this, the fourth and last of the elements necessary to make a personal SWOT analysis, you will have your assessment ready.

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