For many people, a big part of the Christmas season is seeing all the presents under the tree. There’s a sense of excitement and curiosity about what’s actually in those brightly colored packages. Nobody leaves their presents unwrapped under the Christmas tree. A lot of the fun comes from opening the packages and discovering what’s inside. Every now and then there is a big surprise (sometimes in a small package) that turns up and gets everyone really excited. But what’s under your company Christmas tree? What’s the key to discovering your company’s hidden gifts?
Do You Have Unopened Gifts Under Your Company Tree?
I’m not talking about actual presents for your employees. I’m talking about the surprises that perhaps have gone undiscovered within your organization. If you don’t “unwrap” them you’ll never know what you’ve got.
Sadly, a lot of companies have presents or gifts that they’ve never discovered—and therefore, never used. It’s kind of like leaving wrapped presents under a Christmas tree. And sometimes those unopened gifts can have a huge impact on the success of your company. So how do you go about “unwrapping” those gifts?
Unwrap Your Company’s Gifts
One way to do that is to have a SWOT analysis done for your company. It’s a pretty straightforward exercise that allows you to examine the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to your business. It’s a very helpful tool that provides information that can assist you with creating your company’s strategy. It can be invaluable when you are evaluating personnel decisions, market penetration, and even timing for initiatives.
It can help you uncover hidden strengths (talent, experience, expertise) within your organization that you can leverage. That truly is a gift. But it can also surface opportunities that you hadn’t previously considered. That’s another gift! Even the “darker” side of a SWOT analysis can be a gift. When weaknesses are exposed, you’ll have the opportunity to address those. If you’re made aware of threats you hadn’t considered, you’ll have the opportunity to take corrective action.
However, if you leave those “gifts” unwrapped and unexamined, you could find yourself in a situation that could cripple your company. Contact me after Christmas about how to conduct a SWOT analysis of your business so that you can take advantage of your strengths and seize the opportunities that are waiting for you! That’s a great gift any time of the year