A successful team utilizes the SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) approach in problem-solving. When a team is better capable of working in an open environment, ideas flourish and therefore the team is better able to be successful as a unit.
SWOT is a strategic way of problem-solving which utilizes three different schools of thinking:
- Rational - A "pros/cons" look at weighing your options on a decision
- Creative- This process challenge norms by using new and innovative ideas
- Strategic- This is looking at how the solution is directly impacting the "Bigger Picture"
SWOT is using both internal and external environments and their positive and negative reactions as strategic thinking to map out a way of evaluating the situation or problem and how to overcome it. Andrew Schrange CEO of Money Crashers notes, "It allowed me to identify the key areas where my organization was performing at a high level, as well as areas that needed work."
Strengths are utilizing your resources and abilities to help resolving the issue. By addressing the Weaknesses, such as lack of knowledge or self-critical thoughts, one is able to see where the internal problem lie. When the team seeks the Opportunities they have to be successful they can see the Threats, or barriers, to their success and they are better equipped with tacking those shortcomings together as a unit to resolve their long-term issues.
As the team addresses each aspect of the SWOT approach in a non-restrictive environment, they are better able to collaborate ideas in a time when reflection and introspect can occur without restraint. With the ability to be open and honest, team members are open to challenge norms, and creativity for risk-taking ideas can flourish. When these new ideas are brought to other team members, research and analysis can be completed to anticipate failure or success based on the strategy and goal of the team. With this holistic view of an objective, a team is better capable of preventing a "bandage" short-term fix for an overall large issue.
To be successful in SWOT, each member of the team collaborates with their own past experiences, mental attitude and individual factors. With each personal barrier a teammate brings to the group, the more difficult success can be achieved using the SWOT approach. Members of the team have to realize barriers prevent success but once a team looks at a barrier as a opportunity for success, they are better capable of turning that barrier into an opportunity for personal growth. Within the SWOT approach, if a team member lacks experience, an opportunity can be created for mentoring with another fellow teammate or a committee can be created to collaborate for teaching a new method or learning opportunity.
As each team member comes together with their ideas and self-awareness, goals can be achieved. Each member of the team can provide insight to a process or challenge the group faces. With each new idea, fellow members are able to ask questions and obtain different views on achieving success on the problem which prevents their success. With innovation flourishing, the team can clarify objectives and prioritize steps to reach their goals. By broadening the range of their innovative ideas through collaboration, they are better capable of tackling their barriers and find solutions to be successful.
