How can an Introvert Succeed as a Business Analyst?

Are you an introvert who wants to start a career in business analysis but skeptical about whether you will be able to succeed?

I understand that feeling. Because I am an introvert myself. In spite of being an introvert, I have been in business analysis for over 22 years now, working with large banking and telecom customers helping them build applications that could solve their problems and automate tasks.

So, if you are an introvert, don’t worry, I am going to give you the exact formula that has worked for me. I truly believe that you too can be successful.

In this article, I will share some amazing qualities an introvert already has which makes him the perfect fit for a BA and then we will dive into the formula and your next steps.

Skill 1: Problem solving and analytical skills.

Introverts have good problem solving and analytical skills.

This is primarily due to the fact that they are deep thinkers, they like to look at a problem from all different angles, permutation and combinations and analyze problems, risks, requirements, issues on a much deeper level. They do not do surface level analysis. They don’t run into hasty decisions or make false recommendations. They like to get to the root of the problem. This is one crucial skill organizations look for in a business analyst.

Skill 2: Listening Skills

They are very good listeners. If you have an introvert, in a meeting you will see him most of the time listening and processing information and talking less. Many times, this is misunderstood as having lack of confidence, that is not the case. Introverts listen most of the time and speak only when required. Effective Listening skills very important in a Business Analyst Role.

Skill 3: Simplicity

They like to keep it Simple. If you observe an introvert giving a sales presentation, or a demo, you will see that they like to get to the point. They will be quick to tell the customer how the recommended solution will help solve his problem, the benefits and costs associated with it.

They do not like to beat around the bush and keep on talking and convincing customers.

If you see my content also on YT, its quite simple to understand, no jargons, no complexities. Very simple straightforward content. This is what customers like.

Skill 4: Continuous Improvement

Because introverts are deep thinkers, they are continuously looking for areas of improvement. Like when I was working as a Junior BA, the documentation that I used to produce was not that great. When I saw my technical team coming back to me with lots of queries after reading documentation, I realized there were significant gaps. So, I modified the template and added new sections and diagrams in the document which in turn improved the final quality of the product. Over the years, I was able to improvise this further and today, in our Business Analysis Hub, our community members have several ready to use templates which they can directly use in their projects.

Skill 5: Leadership

Yes, you heard it right. Introverts are great leaders. If you do a quick google on introvert leaders you will find these names Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk. Yes, they are all introverts. So, if you dream of starting your own business or become the CEO of a company one day, don’t lose hope just because you are an introvert.

Now that you have understood that you have some amazing qualities to become a successful business analyst, let us look at what are the areas you need to work on. This will be your formula for success.

I am not going to ask you to change into an extrovert. Changing your personality is not at all required. But based on the need of the role simply adapt to the situation.

Here are three areas I worked on:

Work on your Fears: If you feel anxious in meeting rooms when you are surrounded by people, then that’s the first thing you need to work on. Lot of introverts feel that they don’t have good communication skills but the problem is not communication skills. The problem usually is lack confidence or fear of the outcome. I used to overcome my fear by rehearsing before a presentation and detaching myself from the outcome of a meeting. I practiced script for several meetings by looking into the mirror and asking questions. More and More exposure to meetings will help you gradually overcome this fear.
Rapport: Introverts are very selective about friends. We must build a good rapport with every customer whether you like him or not. So, engage in casual chats with your customers whenever you meet them in cafeteria or while discussing requirements.
Team Bonding: Introverts feel drained when surrounded by people, so they tend to miss most office gatherings. You need to come out of that shell and mingle with your team on a need basis. Having a good bonding with your team can help you get customer issues resolved very quickly.

If you need help in instilling confidence and improving your soft skills so as to play your BA role better, you can drop an email at [email protected]