Value-Focused Business Analysis Training | Helping business analysts, product, project, and technology professionals create business value and advance their careers with practical, real-world online training
This is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves when it comes to interviewing business analysts, or watching how business analysts show up in their work. And it has MASSIVE negative consequences: ?? When we don't value ourselves and our contributions, it's more difficult for others to value what we bring to the project. ?? Our contributions go unseen under the umbrella of the "we" of the team. ?? But we still get blamed when things go wrong, because it always comes back to the requirements, right? Here is what I think is going on. ?? The very analytical skills that make us so intelligent, and give us the smarts to solve just about any problem under the sun, also make us perfectionists. ?? When we turn our critical thinking and analytical abilities on ourselves, we magnify all the things we’re doing wrong and dim what we’re doing right. ?? We are great at picking things apart - especially when it’s our own abilities, skill sets, and contributions. The solution involves: ? Making an incredibly big list of your accomplishments (using "I" language). ? Evaluate the actions you took to create your biggest results. ? Make this a daily practice and celebrate 3 wins EVERY DAY, even if they seem "small." Let's start today! Share one win or accomplishment in the comments below. Soak in the feeling of celebrating YOU. And check in to celebrate each other. This might seem like a small step, but it starts to repattern our thinking and helps us feel more comfortable celebrating our own contributions. #BusinessAnalysts #ProblemSolving #CareerSuccess
This touches a nerve, for sure. I just found myself over-apologizing for an error I personally did not make, but still said “we.” I think we have had “teamwork” drilled into us for so many years that it is second nature to apologize for mistakes while downplaying accomplishments. My accomplishment: I successfully closed a project today, after completing the analysis, presenting the solution options, and helping the stakeholder make a decision.
In my opinion it's not possible to be too humble! ?? I would rather call what you describe as acting in false humility. True humility is knowing your worth and value, and despite that, thinking about others more than oneself. False humility is thinking less of yourself, i.e. thinking you are less important or add less value than you actually do.
Oh, gosh! Bragging about my accomplishments is so hard...but sometimes it is hard to realize in a role that isn't truly defined as BA or in a individual contributor role what is truly "your" accomplishment in the grand scheme of things. Maybe you put forth the idea for an enhancement or project, but were left out of a good deal of the requirements and planning, only to be brought back in later. Getting metrics around things when you aren't in the right role to gather them yourself also makes it hard to put into words with numbers the actual effect your ideas or contributions had on the organization.
Very valuable advice! I'm guessing this is familiar behavior to many peeps in my network. If so, would love to hear how these steps might encourage you to celebrate your wins, document your value-add, and step into your power!
So funny just had a call with my mentor today and was selling myself so short and not valuing the work I do or how much I have accomplished and the bad part is that I have not kept a record so I don’t even know what to write on my resume
I would also extend that to Trainers, a job role that has many similarities to Business Analysts...
Share your Business Analysis Achievement and submit it for the Business Analysis Achievement Award! Initiative to promote our profession by IIBA? Brussels Chapter IIBA NL BA & Beyond & DREAM event
I finished a blog post today even though I wanted to rewrite it about 10 more times!
Value-Focused Business Analysis Training | Helping business analysts, product, project, and technology professionals create business value and advance their careers with practical, real-world online training
1 年I'll start! I was incredibly focused yesterday and got my entire task list done in record time.