A SWOT analysis is most useful as a trigger for decisions, not as a document filed and forgotten. Bayou & Co. runs a fresh SWOT at the start of each planning cycle — their operations team spends 45 minutes adding and rearranging items, and the output feeds directly into the quarterly priorities they set that same afternoon.
Before you start
- The Strategy module must be enabled (Settings → Modules → Strategy).
- You need admin role to add, edit, delete, or reorder SWOT items. Viewers and members can read the analysis without any special setup.
Step 1: Open the SWOT page
Click Strategy → SWOT in the sidebar. The page shows a two-by-two grid:
| Internal | External | |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | Strengths | Opportunities |
| Negative | Weaknesses | Threats |
Each quadrant accepts any number of text items. Existing items are visible immediately; you enter edit mode inline.
Step 2: Add items to each quadrant
Click Add item at the bottom of any quadrant. A text field appears inline. Type the item and press Enter or click Add to save it. Press Escape to cancel without saving.
Bayou & Co.'s strength items include "17-year tenure team average" and "Direct distributor relationships in 3 regions." Their opportunity items include "Competitor exiting the Southeast market in Q3" and "Untapped demand from mid-market accounts (1,200 teams identified)." These specifics are what make a SWOT useful — avoid generic items like "good team" or "market growth."
Aim to be specific enough that an item has a clear implication for your strategy. If you can't answer "so what?" for an item, tighten the wording or drop it.
Step 3: Edit and delete items
Hover over any item to reveal the pencil and trash icons on the right edge.
- Click the pencil to edit the item text inline. Press Enter or click outside to save.
- Click the trash to delete the item immediately. There is no confirmation prompt.
Step 4: Reorder and move items
Drag any item by its grip handle to reorder it within a quadrant, or drag it across the grid to move it to a different quadrant. Moved items land at the bottom of the destination quadrant.
Reordering reflects priority — put your highest-signal items at the top of each quadrant. The one-page view does not pull from the SWOT, but an ordered SWOT makes a better discussion artifact.
Step 5: Use the analysis to inform planning
When the SWOT is complete, walk through it with your leadership team and ask:
- Strengths + Opportunities → Where can we double down? These often become annual goals or quarterly priorities.
- Weaknesses + Threats → What risk do we need to mitigate? These often become defensive priorities or hiring decisions.
- Weaknesses + Opportunities → What internal improvement would unlock the most external upside?
- Strengths + Threats → What competitive moat do we need to protect?
Update the SWOT at each planning cycle rather than trying to make it exhaustive. Fewer, sharper items beat a full inventory.
What comes next
- Turn SWOT insights into commitments: How to set a quarterly priority
- Define the values that guide how you act on your strengths: How to define your company's core values
- Assemble the full picture into a shareable document: How to export the one-page plan as a PDF