Instructions for Conducting a SWOT Analysis
Leadership
Effective leadership is one of the most critical elements of successful prevention efforts. Leaders should be able to define the
problem for coalition members, cast a vision for prevention, and organize data-driven decision making in a collaborative environment.
Consistent leadership over time is absolutely essential for sustained success. “Special kinds of leadership and management are
required to achieve the critical characteristics of a collaborative problem-solving process. This type of leadership and management is
very different from what is needed to coordinate services or to run a program or organization. One difference relates to the number
and mind-set of the people involved. Rather than having one person ‘run the show,’ successful community collaborations often
involve a variety of people in the provision of leadership, in both formal and informal capacities.
“Going further, the people who seem to be most successful do not function as traditional leaders and administrators, who tend to
have a narrow range of expertise, are used to being in control, have their own vision of what should be done, and relate to the people
they work with as subordinates rather than as peers. Instead, community collaborations appear to benefit from having leaders and
staff who believe deeply in the capacity of diverse people and organizations to work together to identify, understand, and solve
community problems. These kinds of individuals understand and appreciate different perspectives, are able to bridge diverse
cultures, and are comfortable sharing ideas, resources, and power.2 Leaders must be able to fulfill each of these functions: (1)
promote broad and active participation, (2) ensure broad-based influence and control, (3) facilitate productive group dynamics, and
(4) extend the scope of the process. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as they apply to your leadership, now
and in the future.
Coalition
“A community-based coalition is a group of individuals representing diverse organizations, factions, or constituencies within
the community who agree to work together to achieve a common goal.” (Butterfoss, p. 66)
Individual empowerment:
The growing interest in using collaboration to deal with problems that affect community health stems from the fact that many
of these problems are complex; consequently, they go beyond the capacity, resources, or jurisdiction of any single person, program,
organization, or sector to change or control. (Lasker) Research has shown that successful coalitions are those in which individuals
are empowered through their involvement. Do the individuals in your coalition feel empowered through the coalitions work?
Download file here
