Are you looking for a strategic planning tool that can help you leverage your strengths, identify opportunities, align your vision and create positive results? One tool that can help you achieve this is the SOAR analysis.
SOAR stands for Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results. It is a strategic planning framework that helps you identify your strengths, explore the opportunities in your market, articulate your aspirations, and measure your results.
In this blog post, we will explain what SOAR analysis is, how it differs from SWOT analysis, and how you can use it to create a powerful action plan for your business.
What is SOAR Analysis and Who Invented It?
SOAR Analysis is a strategic planning tool that helps organizations to identify their strengths, opportunities, aspirations and results. Jacqueline Stavros, David Cooperrider & D. Lynn Kelley introduced this framework in 2003, in their paper ‘SOAR: A new approach to strategic planning’.
Unlike SWOT Analysis, which focuses on both strengths and weaknesses, SOAR Analysis emphasizes the positive aspects of the organization and its potential for growth and improvement. SOAR Analysis can be used to create a shared vision of the future, align strategic initiatives with organizational values, and develop action plans to achieve desired outcomes.
Differences Between SWOT and SOAR
| Aspect | SWOT Analysis | SOAR Analysis |
| Purpose | Tactical action plan to assess current state (where the company is) | Visionary-based action plan to address potential (forward-thinking) | Focus | Identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats | Emphasizes strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and result |
| Negative Aspects | Includes weaknesses and threats | Eliminates weaknesses and threats |
| Approach | Analyzes both internal and external factors | Primarily focuses on internal factors (strengths and aspirations) |
| Perspective | Balanced view of positive and negative aspects | Positive and optimistic view, leveraging strengths for growth |
| Strategic Direction | Helps formulate strategies to mitigate weaknesses and threats | Drives strategies based on strengths and aspirations |
| Decision-Making | Guides decisions related to risk management and resource allocation | Guides decisions related to growth and positive impact |
| Implementation | Addresses challenges and vulnerabilities | Leverages existing strengths to achieve desired outcomes |
| Example Questions | What are our core competencies? - What external factors pose risks? | What unique capabilities do we have? - How can we create a positive difference? |
| Overall Assessment | Widely used and comprehensive, but may focus on negatives | Forward-looking, optimistic, and encourages leveraging strengths |
SOAR Analysis Templates
How to conduct a SOAR Analysis in 5 steps
1. Identify Strengths
What are the things that you do well? What are your unique capabilities, resources and assets? What are the positive aspects of your culture, values and brand?
2. Identify Opportunities
What are the external trends, changes and needs that you can take advantage of? What are the gaps or niches that you can fill or create? What are the potential partnerships, collaborations or alliances that you can form or strengthen?
3. Determine Your Aspirations
What is your vision for the future? What are your goals and objectives? What are your core values and purpose? What are the desired outcomes and impacts that you want to achieve?
4. Figure Out How to the Measure Results
How will you measure your progress and success? What are the key performance indicators, metrics and milestones that you will use? How will you communicate and celebrate your achievements?
5. Create an Action Plan
How will you implement your strategy? What are the specific actions, tasks and responsibilities that you will assign? What are the resources, timelines and budgets that you will allocate? How will you monitor and evaluate your performance?
Advantages of SOAR Analysis
It builds on your strengths rather than dwelling on your weaknesses.
Fosters a positive, optimistic and appreciative mindset.
Encourages collaboration, engagement and participation among stakeholders.
Aligns your vision, mission and values with your strategy.
Creates a clear and compelling picture of your desired future.
Inspires action, innovation and change.
Limitations of SOAR Analysis
May overlook or underestimate the challenges, risks and threats that you face.
Too vague or unrealistic in defining your aspirations and results.
Lacks specificity or detail in creating your action plan.
It requires more time and effort to conduct than a SWOT Analysis.
May not be suitable for every situation or context.
Where and When Should You Choose SOAR Analysis?
A SOAR Analysis can be used for various purposes, such as:
Developing a strategic plan for your organization, team or project.
Conducting a situation analysis or environmental scan.
Identifying your competitive advantage or unique value proposition.
Creating a vision statement or a mission statement.
Setting goals and objectives.
Evaluating your performance or progress.
You should choose a SOAR Analysis when you want to:
Focus on the positive aspects of your situation rather than the negative ones.
Involve and empower your stakeholders in the planning process.
Create a shared vision and a common direction for your organization.
Motivate and inspire yourself and others to take action.
How to Conduct a SOAR Analysis with Creately
Start by creating a new workspace and choose a SOAR Analysis template from the library. You can also opt to create a template from scratch using the shape library. Customize your template with color themes, icons, images and fonts.
Conduct a brainstorming session with the team and use stickies to add strengths, opportunities, aspirations and results in the corresponding sections of the analysis. Use dot voting to select the best ideas.
Include additional details, docs and attachments to each sticky through the notes panel.
Get real-time feedback from your team with comments to finalize the analysis.
Create action items based on the analysis by inserting a Kanban into the same workspace. Use @mentions to assign tasks, and use the project management capabilities to track progress.
Conclusion
A SOAR Analysis is a powerful strategic planning tool that can help you leverage your strengths, identify opportunities, align your vision and create positive results. By following the five steps of SOAR, you can develop a comprehensive and actionable strategy for your organization, team or project. You can also use SOAR for various purposes and contexts, depending on your needs and goals.
We hope you enjoyed this blog post and found it useful. If you did, please share it with your friends, colleagues or network. Thank you for reading and happy SOARing!
FAQs About SOAR Analysis
Can SOAR be used for departmental strategies?
What’s the best medium for running a SOAR session?
There is no one best medium for running a SOAR session. You can use different methods depending on your preferences, resources and objectives. Some of the possible mediums are:
Face-to-face meetings or workshops
Online platforms or tools
Surveys or questionnaires
Interviews or focus groups
Brainstorming or mind mapping
The important thing is to choose a medium that allows for effective communication, collaboration and participation among the participants.
