How Is a Knee Replacement Like Being a Business Analyst?

When I recently went through knee replacement surgery, I found myself marveling at the parallels between my experience as a patient and the role as a Business Analyst (BA).?

Preparation: Setting the Stage for Success Both knee replacement surgery and business analysis rely heavily on preparation. Before my surgery, I spent weeks doing pre-hab exercises, preparing mentally for what my next several months would be like, researching the procedure, attending pre-op appointments, and gathering all the tools and equipment I’d need for recovery.

As a BA, preparation is equally critical. Whether I’m eliciting requirements, analyzing stakeholders’ needs, or understanding a project’s scope, I know that success depends on how well I prepare. Like surgery, winging it simply isn’t an option! ?Well, it is, but one that leaves sub-par results that we experience the pain of later!

Consistency and Action: The Key to Progress After surgery, I quickly learned the importance of consistent effort. Physical therapy wasn’t glamorous, but every stretch, every step, and every exercise brought me closer to my goals. ?So did resting.

Similarly, BAs must balance consistency with action. Delivering incremental progress—whether it’s breaking down requirements or presenting insights. In both cases, patience and persistence win the race.

Caution: Proceed, but Carefully In recovery, caution is critical. Overdo an exercise too soon, and I risk setbacks. Skip my exercises, and progress stagnates.

BAs face similar challenges. We must navigate complex situations carefully, ensuring we move forward without introducing unnecessary risks. It’s a balancing act, but one we must master.

Reflective Time: Learn and Adapt Recovery gave me time to reflect—not just on my progress but also on my life. ?What a gift, even though at times I am incredibly frustrated with the "downtime". ?A forced slowdown has given birth to many ideas, insights, and more about my life, and BA-Cube! ?Exciting things to come!

As a BA, reflective time is equally important. ?Taking a step back to evaluate what worked (and what didn’t) helps refine processes for the future. Continuous improvement comes from making space to reflect. ?Also, taking time to think each day helps us truly reflect on if our work and day-to-day business is adding value and making a difference.

Meeting Myself Where I’m At: Flexibility and Balance In recovery, I had to accept where I was—not where I wanted to be. Some days, progress was slow, and I had to adjust my expectations. ?Meeting myself where I am and checking my high-achieving personality and ways was a tricky balance. ?My mind has played tricks on me; I think that walking that extra block is "good for my body", after all how could it not be, walking is good for us, right? ?Well, when I woke up with more pain the next day the Physical Therapist asked "Tell me about your day yesterday?" ?I tell them about the meal I cooked, the errands, and my amazing walk! ?And she said, "Yep, too much! Peel back, you can't push errands, housework, cooking, and exercises all on the same day with this recovery!"

As BAs, we often meet stakeholders where they are. Some are highly engaged; others need more guidance. The trick is finding balance—meeting people where they are but gently guiding them toward action and decision-making.

Collaboration: A Team Effort My recovery required collaboration. Surgeons, nurses, physical therapists, and I (as the patient) all had to work together. No one person can achieve success alone.

Likewise, a BA’s success depends on teamwork. Developers, project managers, stakeholders, and end-users must collaborate to ensure a project meets its goals. Communication and partnership are vital in both cases.

Asking for Help: Don’t Go It Alone There were times during my recovery when I couldn’t do it all. Asking for help—whether from my physical therapist, family, or friends—wasn’t a sign of weakness but of wisdom.

BAs need to embrace this mindset. We don’t have to know everything or solve every problem alone. Leaning on teammates, mentors, and other experts strengthens outcomes.

Surrender, but Take Appropriate Risks Recovery taught me the delicate balance between surrendering to the process and taking calculated risks. Trusting my surgeon and physical therapist required me to surrender, but every step I took was a risk I chose to take, an educated calculated risk. ?I don't have all the answers and I will make some mistakes.

?As a BA, I’ve learned the same lesson. While it’s essential to trust the process and follow best practices, innovation requires us to step outside our comfort zones and take smart risks.

Conclusion: Growth Through Challenge Knee replacement surgery wasn’t easy, and I still have a long way to go in the recovery. ?It reminds me of the traits that make me a strong BA: preparation, persistence, collaboration, and the ability to adapt. Both experiences demand a mix of caution, action, and trust in the process.

The journey taught me that growth—whether physical or professional—comes from facing challenges head-on and working collaboratively toward success.?

What parallels have you noticed between personal experiences and your professional life? I’d love to hear your thoughts!