Have you done a career SWOT analysis?

Hey there,

Last week I ran a session at work about writing a good IDP (Individual Development Plan).

Its a yearly/ quarterly process many organizations have to encourage employees to reflect on their development needs in order to grow their career at the organization. As a part of the session, many people found the Career SWOT analysis, extremly helpful. So I wanted to quickly share this with you!

Below is a generic definition of what a SWOT analysis actually is, if this is the first time you are hearing of this term:

SWOT analysis is a really old and popular tool, especially among management consultants. In my stint as a consultant we used to use that - however primarily for evaluating businesses, not really people.?

However, it makes a lot of sense to use it for career & as an input for identifying what do you want to really develop as skills.?

Below am sharing how this can be used for identifying what development areas to focus on:

STRENGTHS:?

What qualities that you have that make you stand out as a person.

• Qualifications: What are the professional qualifications/certification you have that makes you stand out? (Think of past performance reviews)
• Experience: Can your expertise in some area make a difference to the organization? (Think of overall organization strategy and where it is headed)
• Reputation &?Achievements: What projects/campaigns have you completed successfully? What do your key stakeholders think of you???
• Network:?Do you have sponsors in the organization? Do you have mentors in organizations?

WEAKNESSES:?

What?qualities need enhancement?

• Skills: Do you have the necessary skills/qualifications to be successful in your current or future roles?
• Habits: Do you have bad habits? For example, frequently getting late, poor communication skills, etc.
• Qualifications: Is there an updated qualification which you need to complete to do your role better?

OPPORTUNITIES:

Understand what significant changes you can bring externally and implement it

• Industry:?Are there any significant changes in your industry that you can take advantage of?
• Technology: Has new technology or industry trend emerged that you can make use of future?
• Your Org:?Is a new position advertised in your company that matches your skill set? Or did a position become vacant?

THREATS:

Awareness of external factors that may affect your future promotion or your role in the organization.

• You:?Are your personal traits hurting your career advancements? (Think of the feedback you have gotten in past around this.)
• Other humans: Is one of your peers doing a better job than you in a similar role? Are both of you fighting for the same promotion?
• Technology: Is the popularity of new technologies or the demise of old technologies threatening your career??What are you betting the next 10 years of your careers and professions on? How will you stay one step ahead of being disrupted by a large language model that spews out in minutes what would take humans days? Or by “humans with AI”? What careers will be more resilient in the face of AI?

Taking Action for Success:

Completing this analysis can be a deeply personal and introspective process. Here are some tips:

• Find a Quiet Space: Allocate dedicated time for thoughtful reflection.
• Embrace Iteration: Your SWOT is not a one-time exercise. Revisit and refine it as you progress.
• Seek Guidance: Consider collaborating with a friend, spouse, or trusted colleague. Their objective perspective can accelerate the process.

Remember: Knowledge is power, but implementation is key. Ready to turn your Career SWOT into a powerful action plan? Let me know if you need someone to walk you through for yourself, and I'd be happy to guide you further.

This newsletter aims to empower your personal AND?professional growth. I hope this sparked some valuable self-reflection!

See you soon-?until then, keep thriving!

Rashmi

IG: @leaders