14 BE AN EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE Continued from previous page 3. Ask yourself questions that require description or explanation, not a YES or NO answer. Think deeply before you decide on your answers. Try to be precise and concise and do not prevaricate 4. Keep the focus on your BSACK, that is, your behaviour, skills, attitude, commitment, and knowledge. Zoom in on your attitudes and behaviour especially to and among those with whom you work, particularly those whom you supervise 5. Write down your findings and conclusions (type them up neatly and save them afterwards). Use few words but be clear and complete 6. Save the document where you can find it at will. Number all you entries with unique numbers such as S 1, O 2, W 3, and C 4 7. Share your findings only with those whom you trust, both professionally and personally 8. Be systematic but allow yourself to switch among the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Challenges. That is, you can use an iterative and not a sequential, linear approach 9. Use a quiet place with few distractions. Try to complete your SWOC in a single sitting 10.When you are doing the Self-SWOC Analysis do not lie in bed or lounge at the beach. The ambiance and tranquility of a public park might be helpful to your equanimity but do not turn the exercise itself into a picnic. Have the picnic afterwards wherever you choose in the end 11.Review your summary notes in the matrix once or twice when you are finished but try to have a definitive version within a week of your sit-down session 12.Create an electronic folder (with back up) to save future self-assessments for comparative analysis. Make sure you complete a summary statement for each of the elements of the analysis. Consider the matrix below as your MATRIX FOR PERSONAL SWOC ANALYSIS DAY: DATE: LOCATION: TIME: TIME TAKEN TO COMPLETE ASSESSMENT: STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES S 1. S 2. W 1. W 2 O 1. O 2 SYNOPSIS BY EACH SUBJECT AREA (SWOC) CHALLENGES C 1. C 2. framework for your notes THE FRAMEWORK FOR SELF-ASSESSMENT You might ask yourself why go to all this trouble of Self-Assessment? I know myself well, you might say. Our question to you is: Do you really know yourself? Throughout my career I made adjustments to my own Leadership and Communication styles and my behaviour because of feedback from others. Their feedback proved to me at various points that I did not know me as well as I thought I did. At least I didn’t know how I was perceived. I am convinced that I became a better leader because of that. It is worth the effort for you to take self-assessment seriously and act on it. We suggest that you start with your Strengths. That will put you in a good mood. Remember your Strengths are those FACTS about you that help to bring greater meaning and benefit to your own life and the lives of others in your orbit. Remember that academic certification and competence in a particular job are not the same. Strengths are within your power to develop, manage and control. Weaknesses are those traits and behaviour patterns that make you less productive, efficient, effective, less desirable, less sociable, and less amiable — in short, what might make you a poor performer or cause people to give you a wide berth especially at the end of the work day. Most Weaknesses exist within your power to diminish, eliminate, manage and control. Continues on next page
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