The 10 Most Important Skills Of A Business Analyst
Pursuing a career as a business analyst can be a lucrative and rewarding option. If you are considering becoming a business analyst, then you might be wondering what skills you will need to thrive.
Business analysts often have to juggle a lot of things all at the same time, and their skillsets need to be very varied. They are the ones who analyse the operations of an entire business or department and develop solutions to any problem that may arise.
We are looking at the ten most important skills of a business analyst, and how to get into the role;
1. Technology Skills
Business analysts are required to be technological whizzes. If you aren’t into computers, then a job as a business analyst might not be for you. The role requires extensive knowledge of technology and the IT industry.
A business analyst must stay up to date with any industry developments and changes. Because a business analysts’ job is to know the best ways for a business to operate and to optimise processes, they must be clued up on the technologies available.
2. Research Skills
Research is often the first step to finding a solution to a company’s problem, and business analysts must be well skilled when it comes to investigating.
A business analyst must gather all the information and data required to form an effective solution. This research will also need to be provided and presented to everyone else involved in a project, and enough needs to be done to answer any questions they may have.
3. Data And Statistics Skills
Business analysts have to work with a lot of numbers and large amounts of data. They have to gather data and statistics on any problems the company faces, and then be able to analyse this as well. It isn’t just data analysis that’s important, but risk assessment, gap analysis, statistical analysis and financial planning as well.
4. Finance Skills
Not only does a business analyst have to be good with technology, research and data, but they also need to be financially savvy. It is vital that a business analyst can plan every aspect of a new project in terms of financials and provide details of exactly how much everything will cost.
Financial planning involves determining how the business will afford to achieve the goals set out.
5. Organisation Skills
A business analyst must be able to organise and document everything efficiently. Documentation involves recording and writing down every part of creating and implementing new business solutions.
By documenting everything from start to finish, business analysts can stay organised and on track. This high level of organisation is essential for seamlessly integrating with others on projects and explaining solutions to teams. A business analyst should be able to explain every step of the process in an organised manner.
6. Problem Solving Skills
The job of a business analyst is to develop solutions to problems that a business is encountering, so problem-solving skills are a must. These solutions often encounter frequent changes, so constant adaption is needed to help reach a reasonable resolution.
Problem-solving skills often go hand in hand with flexibility and adaptability, which are all essential for a business analyst. Not only that, but a business analyst should be able to help co-workers and team members with technical challenges as they arise.
7. Decision Making Skills
Business analysts are required to make huge decisions which will have big ramifications for the company. They are responsible for consulting management teams and advising developers on the next steps, so decision-making skills are vital.
It is important that business analysts do not rush decisions and take the time to find solutions that are going to be most beneficial to the business.
8. Management Skills
Business analysts will decide on a course of action and embark on new business projects all the time. They need to be the boss of these projects and take charge over other team members. Management skills are essential for ensuring that projects are completed properly and on time and that everyone is doing their bit.
Business analysts often have to delegate to others, keep everyone on the task at hand, and ensure that every stage of the project is progressing as planned.
9. Communication Skills
In the role of a business analyst, they often need to spend a lot of time interacting with managers, developers, clients, users and co-workers. Communication skills will help a business analyst to communicate every detail of a project successfully. This could be the project requirements, financial reports, testing results or requested changes.
Both written and spoken communication skills are vital for a position as a business analyst.
10. Negotiation Skills
A business analyst often works as the middle man between various departments and people. Developers, users, managers and clients can all have varying ideas, opinions and skillsets, and a business analyst needs to be able to negotiate between them all. Being able to successfully communicate whilst finding mutual solutions is of the utmost importance.
Business Analyst Training
Here at TSG Training, we offer business analyst training courses to help learners pursue a career as a business analyst. Our Business Analysis Foundation eLearning course teaches all the skills and knowledge required to become a business analyst. It is designed for those who want to gain an understanding of business analysis or pursue a career in the subject.
Our BCS Business Analysis Practice course is a three-day course which introduces all the essentials of business analysis with an emphasis on practical learning. We also offer a range of free to listen to webinars on various subjects and courses.
The BCS Programmes Webinar Recording features guest speaker Ademar Albertin and covers our latest BCS courses. It provides a short overview of all our latest courses and how they can help your career or business develop. The focus of this webinar is on how technology can make a significant difference to a progressive organisation.
