What are the Skills and Training Needed for Young and New BAs?
I get asked multiple times by newer BAs what skills and training they should pursue. Over the next five years, business analysis will be one of the top occupations. The title Business Analyst may not be as popular as in the past. Business Analysis is still needed for successful projects to solve problems and add value to companies.
My five pieces of advice for newer and younger BAs are as follows:
Learn about Cybersecurity and Data Analytics.
Be a lifelong learner.
Be open to adapting to change.
Know how to deal with people.
Seek out a mentor; this can be official or unofficial. This person can be in or from outside your company.
While an entire book could be written about these topics, I will keep this blog post short. I will deal with the first three points today and the last two points in next week’s blog. Cybersecurity is everyone’s problem in both their personal and professional worlds. If you get hacked, you will spend a lot of time reporting it, securing new credit cards, changing automatic bank withdrawals, and more. I got hacked through my personal LinkedIn page and spent three weeks handling everything. The consequences to your company are even more damaging and can have severe consequences when it happens.
Data Analytics is necessary for all companies, but some don’t take advantage of them. Studies have found that projects with data analytics to back up their findings are much more successful and have a higher ROI. It only makes sense that you have data analytics to back up your assumptions. Findings, and results create credibility.
Everyone should be a lifelong learner because if you stop learning, you stop living. I was learning something until I left Corporate America and retired. I have continued to learn while starting and running my business. Learning helps a person remain vibrant and sharp until an advanced age. New BAs are like a sponge and need to absorb everything someone shares.
New BAs need to adapt to change. Change is ongoing and is moving at the speed of light. The pace of change was unimaginable just a few years ago. It would be best to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. I will discuss people or soft skills in next week’s blog. I read a quote from Ed Catmill, Founder of Pixar: “When we started Pixar, I was really in over my head. But I look at being in over my head as a feature, not a bug.” This struck me as to how BAs need to have this same outlook. Until next time, please keep your glass at least half-full.
