You’re due for a Business Analysis performance evaluation. What skills should you focus on?

1 Business Requirements Elicitation

One of the core skills of a business analyst is to elicit, analyze, and validate the business requirements from various stakeholders. You should be able to use different techniques, such as interviews, surveys, workshops, observations, and prototyping, to gather the relevant information and understand the underlying problems and needs. You should also be able to document the requirements clearly and unambiguously, using appropriate tools and formats, such as user stories, use cases, business rules, and models. To demonstrate your skill in this area, you should provide evidence of how you elicited the requirements, how you managed the changes and conflicts, and how you ensured the quality and traceability of the requirements.

2 Communication and Collaboration

Another essential skill of a business analyst is to communicate and collaborate effectively with various stakeholders, such as customers, users, developers, testers, managers, and vendors. You should be able to adapt your communication style and methods to suit the audience and the purpose, using verbal, written, and visual means. You should also be able to facilitate discussions, presentations, and meetings, using active listening, questioning, and feedback skills. You should also be able to build rapport and trust with the stakeholders, and manage their expectations and involvement throughout the project. To demonstrate your skill in this area, you should provide examples of how you communicated and collaborated with the stakeholders, how you resolved issues and disputes, and how you influenced and persuaded others.

4 Technical Knowledge and Skills

A business analyst should also have some technical knowledge and skills, depending on the nature and scope of the project and the solution. You should be familiar with the basic concepts and terminology of the technology domain, such as software development, data analysis, business intelligence, or cloud computing. You should also be able to use some of the common tools and applications that are relevant to your project and solution, such as Excel, SQL, Power BI, or Salesforce. You should also be able to understand the technical implications and constraints of the solution, and communicate them to the business and technical stakeholders. To demonstrate your skill in this area, you should provide examples of how you used technical knowledge and skills, how you learned new technologies, and how you bridged the gap between business and technology.

5 Business Domain Knowledge and Skills

A business analyst should also have some business domain knowledge and skills, depending on the industry and sector that they work in, such as finance, healthcare, retail, or education. You should be aware of the business context and environment, such as the vision, mission, goals, strategies, processes, policies, and regulations. You should also be able to understand the business needs and challenges, as well as the opportunities and trends, that affect the project and the solution. You should also be able to apply some of the best practices and standards that are relevant to your business domain, such as Agile, Lean, or Six Sigma. To demonstrate your skill in this area, you should provide examples of how you used business domain knowledge and skills, how you gained insights and expertise, and how you added value and impact to the business.

6 Professional Development and Learning

A business analyst should also be committed to continuous professional development and learning, as they have to keep up with the changing business and technology landscape, and enhance their competencies and capabilities. You should be proactive and self-motivated to seek and pursue learning opportunities, such as courses, certifications, webinars, podcasts, books, and blogs. You should also be open and receptive to feedback and coaching, from your peers, managers, mentors, and customers. You should also be able to reflect and evaluate your performance and learning outcomes, and identify your strengths and areas for improvement. To demonstrate your skill in this area, you should provide examples of how you engaged in professional development and learning, how you applied and shared your learning, and how you improved your performance and skills.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?