Personal SWOT analysis – An Exercise

SWOT analysis is acronym for Strength , Weakness , Opportunities and Threats.  Generally good companies do the SWOT analysis before launching a new product or service in the market.  It is a very useful exercise.

But SWOT analysis is not limited to product or service only.  It is also applicable to an individual also.

The Four parameters of SWOT can easily guide you to start your career or can help you in the advancement of your career ladder.

How? 

Take a paper and pen. 

Write down your strength- In which area you are good or have the command. It might be you are good listener, good orator,  you can be good in organizing the things, you have no hesitation in taking the initiative, you are good in convincing the people, you can be good in communication etc.  These all are your personal traits which make your aura.

Then comes the Weakness.  Judge yourself honestly.  You cannot be master in everything.  Weakness is not a liability , but it the area of improvements which actually stops you in many instances.  Weakness can be – you are not a good listener , you lose your tamper easily , you can be disorganized , you do not feel comfortable to address the audience , you afraid from taking the new challenges, not interested in learning new things , not good in presenting the things in spite of having the full knowledge etc.

The Strength and Weakness are the internal traits or assets of a person.

 

Opportunities and Threats are in second category – External factors which influence you while deciding your career or advancement.

Opportunities : wherever you are today , because of your strength and weakness.  But if you want to scale the heights of success , you have to sense or smell the areas of opportunities which is lies in your area.  Sense them , and if you have a hawk eye, you can easily identify these opportunities and cash them in right time.

Threats :  Identify the areas which are threats for you.  It might be possible that some degree or training is stopping you in the path of advancement of your career.  Some skills which are essential but you have no knowledge about them.  This also can be one threat - the area chosen by you have very limited and not have a long term future etc. 

Do your introspection and prepare your SWOT.  Start working to improve your weakness and threats. 

VMAGO - A Handbook for Business Excellence is at Google Play Store

VMAGO is making a good buzz all around the world.  Truly I am overjoyed with the response of this book. VMAGO- A Handbook for Business Excellence 

I have divided this book into Five Chapters.  First Chapter is the detailed description of VMAGO- How to formulate and execute them. Second Chapter is about the PDCA Methodology to achieve the VMAGO.  Third Chapter  is of BPR- Business Process Reengineering.  Fourth Chapter titled as Career progression and requisite parameters.  In this chapter , there is an illustration that what type of people required in various level of the organization and what should be they have within.  Fifth chapter  is some stories of business houses or individuals : How they have changed the world ?

This book is a result of my 15 experiences with in the industry from manufacturing to Service Sectors and as a quality management system professional, I am fortunate to come across through the various domains of businesses. 

You can find this book at this link - https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anand_Mehra_VMAGO?id=7zzVBgAAQBAJ

Good News- Indian Companies are ready to do robust hiring in 2017

Are you looking for a job change? If yes, 2017 will be the golden year for who are looking for job change or job.  According to a latest survey , three in five employer plan to increase their headcounts in 2017.  80%  of Indian companies are ready to increase their business with the help of existing and new employees in 2017.

Some interesting data of this survey :  

-60% of Indian companies are ready to hire new employees in 2017.

-44% of employees want to leave the current job due to saturation in their job.

-88% of companies are planning to give 8~15 % pay hike to their employees .

-79% of employees has the priority of career progression.

-56% of employees has the salary increments is their first priority.

-40% of employees see learning and development is the key for their retention in any company.

So, if you want to be the part of this growth then –

Update your cv and have a close eye into the job market.

Add some more soft skills and hard skills.  

Be positive. 

Career Progression and Requisite Characteristics - A diagram

1.      Entry ladder : This is first ladder wherein one joins any company after acquiring or completing his/her education with the inborn assets.

2.      2nd ladder : To climb towards second step of the career ladder , you have to demonstrate the education or skills to upgrade you to the next level.  Here , your education / skills and inborn assets plays a vital role to take you further in this ladder.

3.      3rd Stage : Above two levels are execution levels and from the third stage, junior management cadre starts.  From here , you have to demonstrate one another characteristics efficiently as POLC – Planning , Organizing , Leadership and Controlling because from this level , you have to manage a team wherein these characteristics helps you to sustain in this level and after demonstrating these abilities into you daily activities, this will pave the way to another higher level in the ladder.

4.      4th step : This is the step which covers the senior management of the company and here, all the above demonstrated characters are required and effective time management and motivation is also required to sustain in that position.  Because in this level , time management is required to do several activities and you have to charge your team always.

5.      Last 5th and 6th level : These levels are categorized as Top management wherein Patience, strategy  and risk taking capabilities are also required in the growth of the organisation.

Although all the characteristics are required in certain proportion in every stage but these characteristics are required mainly to sustain in that level. 

You can access the full book here at VMAGO- A Handbook for Excellence at Google Play Store.