Need a better tool to plan your learning goals? Follow this SWOT analysis example 🎯

Self-reflection is important for learning and development. It helps you "evaluate your strengths and weaknesses" and "identify areas for growth and improvement." One way to self-reflect is to use the SWOT analysis.

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SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

Learn how to use SWOT to look at where you are now in terms of your learning goals and objectives, then discover how you can use that analysis to put your priorities in order and reach those goals.

You'll meet Lisa and follow her SWOT analysis example!

Begin by looking at your internal strengths that create confidence, build skills, and add to your knowledge.

Strengths are your positive qualities and the resources you have access to. These can be your knowledge, skillset, experience, reputation, or motivation.

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List your strengths and resources.

You'll want to ask questions such as:

1. What skills, education, experience, or achievements do I have?

2. What are things I do better than anyone else?

3. What personal resources am I able to access?

4. What strengths do others see in me?

5. What accomplishments am I most proud of?

Lisa's SWOT Analysis Example: Strengths

Lisa is a rising high school senior. She’s planning to attend college but isn’t sure what she should study or what courses to take.

She settles on using the SWOT analysis to make a list of her strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to help her decide.

Her list of strengths includes:

• great attention to detail

• highly organized

• problem-solving

• inquisitive

• self-learner,

• writing & storytelling

• creativity

Weaknesses are those areas that need improvement.

Areas of improvement may include some negative characteristics or limitations, such as gaps in your knowledge or a lack of experience in some areas. It can also include poor habits or low confidence.

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Make a list of the things you could improve.

You'll want to consider:

1. Things that you find challenging to achieve

2. Times that you've struggled to meet expectations

3. Areas where you lack experience or knowledge

Lisa's SWOT Analysis Example: Weaknesses

Lisa then lists her weaknesses and realizes that she has some learning goals she can focus on. Her weaknesses include:

• fear of failure

• self-criticism

• lack of experience

• poor test-taking skills

Look at what opportunities you have. Opportunities are external things you can take advantage of.

This could include learning resources (webinars, courses), situations to take advantage of (mentors, colleagues), networking (social media, career centers), and technological innovations (software, apps, online tools).

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Think about the occasions or situations that could make it possible for you to accomplish what you want.

Ask yourself:

1. Is there a class or course I could take?

2. Is there some new technology that could help me?

3. Could I get help from a friend or someone else? Do I have network contacts that could help or offer advice?

4. Is there a need that I can fill?

5. Are there any trends I can take advantage of?

Lisa's SWOT Analysis Example: Opportunities

Lisa decided to look for opportunities where she could improve. The media center needs an aid, which will give her experience.

Lisa then considers setting small goals to overcome her fear of failure and build her confidence. She also makes a list of past accomplishments and posts them where she can view them every day.

To overcome her poor test-taking skills, Lisa decided to work with a teacher who provided her with strategies for test-taking.

Lastly, consider what threatsyou may face. Threats are upcoming obstacles and can include potential hurdles you may have to overcome.

They're unfavorable external circumstances or dangers you may have to deal with or be aware of, such as competition, disruptions, or learning barriers like resistance to change or fear of failure.

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Recognize anything that will hinder you.

Ask yourself:

1. What obstacles am I currently facing that are hindering me?

2. Is there anyone I'm competing with?

3. What things are changing that are threatening to me?

4. What things are intimidating me?

5. Do I have any weaknesses that could become threats?

6. Am I facing any learning barriers, such as fear of failure?

Lisa's SWOT Analysis Example: Threats

When Lisa gets the media assistant job, she meets her first threat — Lydia. She’s been a media specialist for the last two school years. Lydia has made it clear that she is the “senior” media specialist, which makes Lisa feel uncomfortable.

Lisa uses a little diplomacy and collaboration with Lydia. She explains to Lydia that she’s only working as a media assistant to gain some much-needed experience. She then asks Lydia to train her and teach her what she knows. Lydia agrees and they work together.

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Now that you've identified your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, how can you use these to plan your learning goals? Consider these ideas:

Strengths

• Showcase your strengths in a portfolio

• Create a self-portrait of your best self

Weaknesses

• Outline a plan to overcome weaknesses

• Push past discomforts

Opportunities

• Take courses to develop new skills

• Participate in webinars or workshops

Threats

• Learn from threats and improve yourself

• Use a strategy to overcome the threat

Use SWOT to continuously monitor and assess your progress. Revisit your learning goals, then adjust your direction accordingly. Identify new strengths, face new weaknesses, pursue new learning opportunities, and anticipate new threats.

A SWOT analysis will help you critically look at the value you bring, ways to improve yourself, opportunitiesyou can use to your advantage, and threatsyou can overcome. It makes an effective method for meeting your learning and development goals.

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With Lisa's story in mind, follow her SWOT analysis example and take steps toward your learning and development goals!