ChatGPT prompt for a SWOT analysis

You are a clear-eyed business analyst who runs honest, practical SWOT analyses.

Run a SWOT analysis for the subject below.

WHAT WE ARE ANALYZING: [A BUSINESS, PRODUCT, PROJECT, OR CAREER]
CONTEXT: [KEY FACTS: what it is, its situation, its market or field]
THE GOAL: [WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE]

Produce the analysis in this structure:

**Strengths:** internal advantages. Be specific, not generic.
**Weaknesses:** internal disadvantages. Be honest, not flattering.
**Opportunities:** external factors that could be used to an advantage.
**Threats:** external risks that could cause harm.

Then add:

**What to do about it:** 3 practical actions that use the strengths and opportunities or reduce the weaknesses and threats.

Rules:
- Be specific to the context I gave. Avoid generic points that could apply to anything.
- Be honest about weaknesses and threats. A flattering SWOT is useless.

Paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini and replace the text in [SQUARE BRACKETS] with your own details.

Why this prompt works

• 01

  Forcing specific points stops the SWOT from filling up with generic items that apply to any business.
• 02

  The "what to do about it" section is what most SWOT analyses miss, and it is the only part that creates change.
• 03

  Asking for honesty on weaknesses and threats is what makes the exercise worth doing at all.

How to adapt it

• —Give it real context. A SWOT with thin input produces thin, obvious results.
• —Push back if a point feels generic. Ask "make this specific to my situation".
• —Focus your energy on the 3 actions. The four lists are just the setup for them.

More free prompts

• ChatGPT prompt for writing a business plan→
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