Find Your Way: Easy Strategies for Business Analysts to Succeed in the 'New Normal'

This article is a write up of Donovan Grant’s motivating talk at BA Conference Europe 2024.?

Taking Back Control??

The ‘new normal’ is the new reality we find ourselves in since the pandemic. Many business analysts report changes in their lives or careers, or both, in the past year or so.??

Some feel ‘stuck’ in their career path, some feel more isolated, and some are too busy to even think about the future. It is futile to resist change, but we can take back control of our lives and our career paths if we take time to reflect.?

The 'AS-IS'?

Business analysts face a time of rapid change in the business landscape. There is increased hybrid working, with many now working from far flung parts of the country. Remote working offers opportunities to take up jobs further afield. On the other hand, isolation can lead to mental health issues.?

Hybrid working is both positive and negative for the work-life balance – positive in terms of flexible working around home and children, but negative if the lines between work and leisure become blurred, leading to stress and burnout. Self-management is critical – managing energy through the day and taking regular breaks.??

There are new communication challenges. Business analysts are often finding themselves on a video call where some stakeholders have their cameras turned off, or their pets might appear. It can be more of a challenge to get people on board. With communication becoming more difficult, BAs have to be adaptable and creative. Above all, BAs need to build rapport as quickly as possible.?

It can be more difficult to be visible in an organisation. This is an even greater challenge for new starters trying to get their careers going, finding buddies and mentors. There can be a gap in their ability to understand the company culture.?

The ‘AS-IS’ perspective is about taking a good look at how things are for you, where you are now. Here are some useful questions to ask yourself.?

How satisfied are you with:?

• your level of connection with colleagues??

• your work-life balance??

• your morning and day routine??

• your communication with colleagues and stakeholders??

• your training and development??

• your personal development??

• how you are adapting to change??

• your ability to see and grasp opportunities??

• your chances for career progression??

The 'TO-BE'?

“Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.” – Chris Grosser?

What does success look like to you? You need to have your own vision of success and what you want for the future.??

To thrive as a BA in the new normal of hybrid working, it helps to look at the key traits of successful hybrid workers. These include: good communications skills; knowing how to use the new communication tools; being smart with self-management; and having a healthy routine.?

• Look at your fundamentals. These are the things you do every day, no matter what. Are you consistent on these fundamentals, even on an off day? For example, meditation in the morning, or a walk or a run? When you start your day, what do you do first???

• Think of ways you can adapt, engage and innovate in your day-to-day role. Are you using the newer tools, such as Miro, Mural or Monday???

• Develop strategies for engaging with your team and with stakeholders. Be sensitive to their time and the level of communication they want. You could try something like a monthly working groups, and have that day set in stone so that everybody has it in their diary going forward. BAs can be creative in establishing new working practices, there’s so much we can do.?

• Be a continuous learner. In this time of change, BAs need to keep current. Know what your direction is and be focused in your learning, finding the relevant training, tools and technologies to enhance and support how you work. Look at how you can do better and impact people for the better. Build a learning culture at work, for example meeting every Friday to share best practices, or learning from courses or conferences.??

Do you have a clearly defined career goal for the next 12 months? You need to have one. It’s essential. Otherwise, why are your learning, if you don’t have a goal??

Options?

There are always options. Out of the following key areas, what area do you want to focus on, where do you want to make improvements???

AREA 1 – Remote Working Skills – learn specific tools, integrate tools into daily workflows, training and resources.?

AREA 2- Professional Relationships – platforms for virtual networking, tips for effective online networking, maintaining relationships long-term.??

AREA 3 – Personal Growth – goal setting, SMART goals with tools and techniques for tracking progress. Set a 12-month goal.?

AREA 4 –? Cultivate New Habits – identify impactful habits, implement new habits, monitor and adjust habits. Be more organised. Make every single day count. Find an accountability buddy and check in with them.??

Which area is most important for you to focus on right now? What will be the benefit if you make that happen? Choosing an area and making improvements does not just apply to our careers. It is possible to make changes and improvements across the board, in our personal lives too.?

Next Steps?

• Take bite-size chunks. Start today. Set your goals. Integrate new ideas into your work every day. Remember, it’s always Day 1.??

• Accept that change is the norm. Learn new skills to move forward. Create your vision of future possibilities. Think: ‘Embrace. Enhance. Expand.’?

• Acknowledge external limitations, then focus on what can be controlled. Have a strategy to deal with uncertainty. What are your fundamentals? They keep you strong.??

Remember to pause and reflect, look at what is going well, and look at what you need to do to move forward. Give yourself that time and take the next step. Good luck!??

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Further Resources?

BOOKS?

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl?

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday?

Effective Executive by Peter Drucker?

Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield?

Atomic Habits by James Clear?

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT?

Heroic.us ?

NETWORKING?

LinkedIn.com ?

Lunchclub.ai ?

IIBA?

BCS?

TOOLS?

Miro?

Mural?

Monday?