Personal SWOT Analysis: 5 Simple Steps to SWOT Yourself

The personal SWOT analysis is a strategic tool for self-discovery and can provide real breakthroughs in your career and life.

You see, thinking is your most important skill.

Making a self-SWOT analysis provides a structured way to think about your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. SWOTting yourself can reveal how you can best align your actions with your life’s goals and ambitions.

Creating a personal SWOT analysis is an investment in yourself that costs you nothing. And there’s no better time to create one than right now.

Let’s dive in!

• What is a personal SWOT analysis?
• What are the benefits of a SWOT analysis?
• How to conduct a personal SWOT analysis?
• Personal SWOT analysis examples
• Examples of SWOT in different areas of your life
• Overcoming common challenges in SWOT analysis

What is a personal SWOT analysis?

A personal SWOT analysis is a strategic self-assessment tool that helps you identify and evaluate your personal Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities for growth, and Threats to your success. It can guide your personal development plan and decision-making processes.

Here’s a snapshot of each SWOT element:

• Strengths: Understanding your talents and areas of excellence.
• Weaknesses: Recognizing areas in which you can improve.
• Opportunities: Spotting opportunities that you can capitalize on.
• Threats: Identifying any external challenges you might face.

While the SWOT analysis is originally a business strategy tool to assess how an organization compares to its competition, it’s also extremely useful for strategic planning in your personal life, especially for career growth.

Quick example of a personal SWOT analysis

We’ll cover more in-depth examples of the SWOT analysis, but here’s a quick one to grasp the idea. 

Imagine you’re a graphic designer:

• Strengths: Creative imagination, design software skills, strong portfolio.
• Weaknesses: Limited client base, struggle with public speaking.
• Opportunities: Growing demand for digital art and new tools to learn.
• Threats: Rapid technological changes and increasing competition.

Sitting down to conduct a self-SWOT analysis like this provides insights that can help guide your career strategy.

What are the benefits of a SWOT analysis?

Each of the elements in the personal SWOT analysis provides benefits. So let’s dissect each SWOT element:

• Understanding and leveraging your unfair advantages improves self-confidence, helps you achieve your goals faster, and accelerates your success in all areas of life.
• Recognizing your weaknesses enables you to create strategies to overcome your roadblocks and manage potential pitfalls, reducing stress, anxiety, and the chance of failure. 
• Identifying potential opportunities enables you to prepare for market trends and anticipate changes. And it empowers you to pursue paths that better align with your skills, personal goals, and career aspirations.
• Understanding potential threats helps you anticipate and strategize to avoid or eliminate them. Assessing risks makes you more adaptable and helps you deal with adversity or setbacks.

Overall, a SWOT analysis encourages self-reflection and critical thinking. The benefits in a nutshell are more self-awareness, better goal alignment, and a structured approach to making decisions.

How to conduct a personal SWOT analysis?

Conducting a personal SWOT analysis requires a quiet space for reflection, a way to take notes, and an open mindset for honest self-evaluation. 

So, set aside uninterrupted time to focus.

Before you get into the exercise, think about your desired outcome. 

Do you want to…

• optimize or change your career strategy?
• use a self-SWOT to improve your relationships?
• use the analysis to plan your financial future?
• identify personal and professional growth opportunities?

Understanding the desired outcome of your personal SWOT analysis helps you to streamline your thoughts. In addition, spend at least 10 minutes of thought on each of the following steps.

Let’s get started with this simple 5-step personal SWOT analysis template.

Step 1: List your strengths

Start by identifying and listing all of your personal strengths. These are the qualities, skills, and assets that give you an (unfair) advantage in various aspects of your life. 

Consider the following:

• Skills and talents: What are you good at? This might include technical skills, soft skills, or any natural talents you were gifted with.
• Accomplishments: Reflect on your past successes and achievements. What strengths and skills helped you reach these?
• Common compliments: What positive feedback do you often receive? Are you organized, a computer expert, or an effective communicator?
• Positive personality traits: Think about your personality and work ethic. Are you reliable, creative, or perhaps a quick learner?
• Resources: Consider the resources you have access to that others might not, such as a strong personal network or large savings.

As you list your strengths, be specific and honest. 

Aim to understand how each strength contributes or has contributed to your successes. Having a deep understanding of this connection allows you to leverage your superpowers repeatedly in the future.

Now, let’s move on to…

Step 2: Review your weaknesses

You’ll now take an introspective look at areas where you’re less strong. This could be a lack of skills, certain setbacks, or resources you need but don’t have access to. 

Consider the following: 

• Skill gaps: Are there technical or soft skills you need but don’t have yet? What are essential skills you must acquire to achieve your goals?
• Personal traits: Do you have any fears or personal tendencies that hinder your progress, like procrastination or a fear of public speaking?
• Comparative disadvantages: Compared to others in your field, what are you lacking? What do others seem to do easier than you?
• Feedback: Reflect on any consistent feedback or criticism you’ve received from others. What are recurring patterns?

Be honest yet constructive. 

Remember that acknowledging your weaknesses isn’t about self-criticism; it’s about finding areas to either navigate, delegate, or improve. We’ll discuss this in step five.

But first, let’s continue with…

Step 3: Identify your opportunities

Now it’s time to shift your focus outward and identify the opportunities available to you.

There’s a lot of change happening right now…

While that can be daunting, scary, or even feel threatening, it also provides your greatest opportunities for self-improvement and success. What changes are happening around you that you can benefit from?

Consider the following:

• Trends: What are the shifts in your industry, direct environment, or society in general that you can take advantage of?
• Network: Do you have strong contacts or acquaintances that can provide access to new opportunities? Or are there any ways to expand your personal and professional network? 
• New needs: Are there emerging needs that you can address? What about new problems that you’re capable of solving?
• New markets: Can you take existing skills and apply them to an upcoming market or industry? Cryptocurrencies are a good example. But other new markets and industries pop up all the time.
• Personal changes: Are there any changes in your life that open up new possibilities? People often fear change. But while some existing doors may close, when you look ahead, you’ll notice that many others open.

It’s important to see change through an optimistic lens if you want to use it to your benefit. Opportunities often come from unexpected places, so keep an open mind and accept and appreciate constant change. 

While luck is a part of success, you also create your own.

Finally, you want to address…

Step 4: Know your threats

Lastly, consider the external factors that could pose risks or obstacles to your progress. 

As a risk-averse person, I frequently perform a threat analysis. While it sometimes helps to burn the bridge and just go for it, I prefer a slow and steady approach.

Either way, everyone benefits from assessing their risks. 

Consider the following:

• Competition: Who or what is competing for the same resources or opportunities as you? While you shouldn’t obsess over your competition or play dirty games to hold others back, it helps you to be strategically aware of your competition and surroundings.
• Changes: Are there industry, technological, or societal changes that might undermine your position? While the rise of AI provides a lot of opportunity, most people righteously feel it threatens their current jobs.
• Obstacles: What are the specific barriers or challenges you face in achieving your goals? And where do those threats come from?
• Personal circumstances: Are there any personal issues or changes that could impact your plans?

Be realistic but not overly pessimistic when answering these questions. 

Clarifying your potential threats enables you to plan and prepare. Foreseeing challenges can help you to avoid or face them more effectively. I feel more hopeful and less anxious when I anticipate risks and potential setbacks.

The final step is…

Step 5: SWOT analysis

After identifying your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, the final step of the SWOT analysis template is to examine and use your insights strategically. 

This process involves what’s known as matching and spinning:

Matching

Matching means aligning your internal qualities and flaws with external conditions. 

One way is leveraging your strengths to take advantage of opportunities and reduce threats. Another is to improve weaknesses by taking advantage of opportunities. 

For example, I’m organized and detail-oriented, so I leverage these strengths to deliver top quality to my clients. In contrast, my previous colleague had amazing social skills, so he used those to build amazing relationships. 

Two different but equally successful approaches to achieve the same objective: Happy clients. 

Another example is that I overcame my fear of public speaking by pursuing opportunities to speak up and present stuff at work, which there were many in my role as (upcoming) consultant.

Spinning

Spinning involves reevaluating or redefining your weaknesses or threats to turn them into strengths or opportunities. 

For example, I knew I wanted to escape finance and learn the skill of writing. So I started a blog. This path led me to learn several skills, including the high-income skill of SEO, which then became my career path. 

Similarly, AI is a threat to my career as much as it’s an opportunity to master this new technology and use it to get ahead.

Think about how you can best use matching and spinning based on your personal SWOT analysis. And align them with your goals.

I prefer an 80/20 approach in which 80% of my time is spent on leveraging my strengths and pursuing opportunities. 

Your strengths provide your competitive edge and make your journey much more fun. Yet, spending 20% on developing and managing your weaknesses ensures you’re not completely neglecting them.

Personal SWOT analysis examples

In this next section, we’ll cover several examples for each category of a personal SWOT analysis. It will provide extra guidance and inspiration to reflect on your career and life.

While I’ll provide specific examples for inspiration, see if you can apply the framework to your situation. For example, “I often get asked about relationship advice” can become “I often get asked about X and Y”. 

Strengths

• I quickly adjust to new situations and challenges.
• I effectively articulate my thoughts and listen well to others.
• I enjoy tackling complex issues and finding creative solutions.
• I’m skilled at motivating teams and leading projects to success.
• I know my way around modern software and technologies.
• I possess strong analytical skills, especially in data interpretation.
• I am known for my creative problem-solving abilities.
• I have a consistent record of achieving sales targets.
• I am very disciplined in my health and fitness routine.
• I often get asked by friends for relationship advice.
• I speak multiple languages fluently.

Weaknesses

• I get nervous and struggle to communicate in larger groups.
• I sometimes procrastinate or struggle to prioritize tasks effectively.
• I can become frustrated when things do not move at the desired pace.
• I tend to say yes too often, leading to stress and burnout.
• I take criticism personally and let it affect my mood.
• I can be overly critical of my work, leading to delays.
• I struggle to delegate tasks and tend to micromanage.
• I am not very familiar with the latest technologies.
• I struggle with maintaining a work-life balance.
• My professional writing skills need improvement.
• I avoid social events due to self-doubt and insecurities.
• I find it challenging to maintain eye contact during conversations.

Opportunities

• Attend more meetups to expand my network.
• Become fluent in Spanish to unlock new job opportunities.
• Do community work to increase leadership skills and social impact.
• Enroll in advanced courses or certifications to deepen my expertise.
• Explore different cultures to broaden my perspective.
• Take a course or workshop to improve my writing skills.
• Learn a new high-income skill to set a career change in motion.
• Seek mentorship from a senior leader to enhance strategic thinking.
• Read several life-changing books to keep learning about myself.
• Start a side hustle to learn new skills and earn additional income.
• Start a blog to share and improve my knowledge and skills.
• Learn about AI to stay competitive in the global job market.

Threats

• The increasing competition of experts in my field.
• Potential job market instability can affect my career security.
• New technology may make some of my current skills obsolete.
• Personal health problems could disrupt my career performance.
• New laws or policies might impact my work or personal life.
• Economic downturns can lead to personal financial challenges.
• I might face burnout if I don’t manage my workload effectively.
• Family commitments may limit the time I can dedicate to my career.
• A lack of continuous learning might make me less competitive.
• My challenges might affect my relationships.

These personal SWOT analysis examples inspire and help you better understand each aspect. 

While you might have noticed that I included both career and personal examples, let’s illustrate that point more clearly by applying the SWOT framework to different areas of your life.

Examples of SWOT in different areas of your life

You can use the personal SWOT analysis in all areas of your life. And it’s as simple as taking the same framework and applying it to various personal and professional scenarios. 

Let’s see how to do that in your:

• Career development
• Personal relationships
• Health and wellness
• Financial future
• Education
• Personal growth

Career development

• Strengths: Identify professional skills, personality traits, and experiences that give you an edge in your industry.
• Weaknesses: Acknowledge areas where you lack experience or skills that are essential for advancement.
• Opportunities: Look for emerging industry trends, job openings, or educational programs that could benefit your career.
• Threats: Consider potential layoffs, industry downturns, or skills becoming obsolete.

Personal relationships

• Strengths: Reflect on the qualities that make you a good friend or partner, like empathy or sticking to your word.
• Weaknesses: Be aware of personal traits that may strain relationships, such as poor communication or stubbornness.
• Opportunities: Identify ways to meet new people or deepen existing relationships, such as community events or relationship workshops.
• Threats: Recognize external factors that could harm your relationships, like a demanding work schedule or long-distance challenges.

Health and wellness

• Strengths: Consider aspects of your lifestyle that contribute positively to your health, like having a regular exercise routine or a balanced diet.
• Weaknesses: Acknowledge unhealthy habits or areas of neglect, such as inadequate sleep or high stress.
• Opportunities: Look for new sports to explore, local gyms you could join, or wellness challenges and programs to try.
• Threats: Be mindful of potential health risks in your environment or potential consequences of not addressing certain aspects of your health.

Financial planning

• Strengths: Assess your current salary, income potential, savings, and investment skills.
• Weaknesses: Understand your financial challenges, like debts or a tendency to overspend.
• Opportunities: Identify potential ways to increase income, reduce expenses, or invest wisely.
• Threats: Consider economic factors, job market changes, or unexpected expenses that could impact your financial stability.

Education

• Strengths: Recognize your academic skills or areas of knowledge where you excel.
• Weaknesses: Identify subjects or skills where you need improvement or lack understanding.
• Opportunities: Look for courses, workshops, or new learning methodologies that could expand your knowledge.
• Threats: Be aware of changes in educational requirements, time constraints that might hinder your progress, or technological advancements that make certain knowledge or skills obsolete.

Personal growth

• Strengths: Reflect on your resilience, adaptability, or other personal growth achievements.
• Weaknesses: Acknowledge emotional or psychological areas that need development, like anger management or self-doubt.
• Opportunities: Seek out mentorship, explore the best self-help books and personal development resources, or life-changing experiences that can foster growth.
• Threats: Recognize internal or external barriers to personal development, such as toxic environments or self-limiting beliefs.

By applying the personal SWOT analysis across these different areas, you gain a holistic view of your life, setting you up to find success and happiness.

Overcoming common challenges in SWOT analysis

Conducting a personal SWOT analysis can be challenging due to biases and emotional barriers. Here are ways to overcome common hurdles:

• Overcoming criticism: Foster a growth mindset, viewing weaknesses and threats as opportunities for personal growth rather than points of failure. After all, everyone sucks at most things.
• Overcoming biases: Seek feedback from all angles rather than only your friends to gain a more objective view of your strengths and weaknesses. Besides friends and family, consider associates, colleagues, teachers, mentors, your team leader, etc.
• Overcoming one-sided perspectives: Weaknesses pair with strengths and vice versa. The same goes for threats and opportunities. So consider the positive of each negative and the negative for each positive.
• Overcoming procrastination: Break down the action plan into small, manageable steps to encourage yourself to take action, rather than seeing your personal SWOT analysis as merely a fun exercise.

Finally, a personal SWOT analysis is extremely dynamic. So schedule periodic reviews of your SWOT analysis to ensure it remains relevant and reflects your growth and changing circumstances.

For example, you can include this in your Quarterly Personal Review, which we cover in this guide about self-reflection.

What’s next?

You now know the steps to conduct a personal SWOT analysis. 

Whenever you feel stuck or wonder what to do, use this powerful tool to gain clarity and strategize your next steps for growth and success.

Key takeaways:

• Understand your strengths and leverage your unfair advantages. And recognize and develop strategies to address your weaknesses.
• Identify and jump on opportunities for growth and success. And anticipate and prepare for potential threats to your well-being and progress.
• Spending 80% on your strengths and opportunities, whereas you spend 20% on navigating weaknesses and threats is a good ballpark.

Further resources:

• Best free online personality and character tests
• Top 5 strengths tests and assessments
• The best books on self-awareness

Challenge: Conduct a mini SWOT analysis on one aspect of your life today. Spend 10 minutes identifying at least one element from each SWOT category and create at least one actionable idea.

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