What professional development technique helps individuals identify personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities for growth, and potential threats to success?

The technique that helps individuals identify personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities for growth, and potential threats to success is a SWOT analysis. This framework allows individuals to conduct a thorough self-assessment by systematically evaluating internal and external factors that impact their personal development and professional growth.

In a SWOT analysis, "strengths" refer to personal attributes and skills that can be advantageous, while "weaknesses" highlight areas needing improvement. The "opportunities" component encourages individuals to look for external factors that could benefit their growth, such as new skills to acquire or changing industry demands. Lastly, identifying "threats" involves recognizing potential challenges that could hinder progress, such as market competition or industry shifts.

By utilizing this structured approach, individuals can create a clear roadmap for self-improvement and strategic planning, making it a powerful tool for personal and professional development. Other techniques, while beneficial in various ways, do not provide the same comprehensive framework for assessing both personal attributes and external factors in the same manner as a SWOT analysis.