A SWOT analysis is a common business tool for scanning the environment and informing strategic planning. You can use it to evaluate the organization and you can also use it with individuals. The traditional SWOT analysis looks at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Instead of looking at weaknesses, you can focus on wishes. Based on the tenets of Appreciative Inquiry, the process of looking at wishes inspires people far more than looking at what they don’t want. Instead of saying, “My weakness is poor time management.” notice how it feels to say, “I wish for stronger time management skills.”
When your clients express a wish, listen carefully to their words, because wishes already imply movement. Strengths and wishes point to the internal landscape, the things we have control over. Opportunities and threats focus on the outer landscape, the things outside our control.Below is a shortened example of a SWOT analysis.
Strengths
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Wishes
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Opportunities
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Threats
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You can use your SWOT analysis to identify the trends that will make it possible for you to stretch yourself, have the impact you want and reposition yourself.
What are three ways to use your strengths to realize your wishes?
What impact would you like to have in your organization?
How can you reposition yourself to be the change you wish to see in the world?
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