What do you do if your business analysis job is hindering your continuing education?

1 Assess your learning needs

The first step is to identify what kind of continuing education you need and why. Do you want to update your knowledge on a specific topic, such as agile methodologies, data visualization, or business process modeling? Do you want to earn a certification, such as CBAP, PMP, or CSM, to boost your credibility and career prospects? Do you want to develop a new skill, such as coding, design thinking, or project management, to expand your capabilities and opportunities? Depending on your goals, you may need different types and levels of learning resources, such as online courses, books, podcasts, webinars, workshops, or mentors.

2 Plan your learning schedule

The next step is to create a realistic and flexible learning schedule that fits your availability and preferences. How much time can you dedicate to learning each week? When are you most productive and motivated to learn? How do you prefer to learn: by reading, watching, listening, or doing? How do you measure your progress and outcomes? Based on these factors, you can plan your learning activities and allocate your time accordingly. For example, you may decide to spend one hour every morning reading a book, watch a webinar during your lunch break, listen to a podcast on your commute, or do an online course on the weekends.

3 Communicate your learning goals

The third step is to communicate your learning goals and expectations to your stakeholders, such as your manager, colleagues, clients, or family. Explain why continuing education is important for you and how it can benefit your work and personal growth. Seek their support and feedback on your learning plan and progress. Negotiate your workload and deadlines to accommodate your learning time. Ask for opportunities to apply your learning to your projects and tasks. Share your insights and best practices with your team and network. By communicating your learning goals, you can increase your accountability, visibility, and collaboration.

4 Optimize your learning methods

Optimizing your learning methods and resources to suit your needs and preferences is the fourth step. Experimenting to find out what works best for you is key, as there is no single solution for continuing education. To optimize your learning, focus on the most relevant and reliable sources of information, avoiding distractions and information overload. Incorporating different types of media, such as text, audio, video, or interactive, can help enhance engagement and retention. Additionally, following the 80/20 rule (spend 20% of your time learning and 80% of your time applying what you learned to real-world scenarios and problems) is beneficial. Regularly review and summarize what you learned and reflect on how it relates to your goals and challenges. Finally, seek feedback from a mentor, coach or peer who can guide you through your learning journey.

5 Review and adjust your learning plan

The fifth step is to review and adjust your learning plan as you go along. Education is an ever-evolving process, so it's essential to monitor your outcomes and satisfaction and make changes accordingly. Ask yourself questions such as: are you achieving your learning goals, enjoying the experience, applying what you learn to work or projects, getting recognition for it, or facing any obstacles? Additionally, consider if there are any new topics or skills you want to learn. Continuing education is not a linear or static process, but a dynamic and iterative one - so keep track of your progress and adjust as needed.