Business Analyst: Me & You

“I am a rock, I am an island.” – Simon & Garfunkel

It’s been a while since I’ve written a post, but I thought I’d take the time to address something I believe is extremely important. It’s something that will potentially affect everyone at some point in their life and career, regardless of their experience or ability as a business analyst, or whatever vocation one chooses in life. I believe in maintaining balance across the personal and professional aspects of one’s life – a career is to be enjoyed, not endured.

I wish I could say that life as a business analyst is a consistently joyful experience, where you wake up everyday filled with excitement in anticipation at what the day ahead holds for you. Unfortunately, there are times where your project, programme or life in general will be a good deal less than brilliant. You may have to face the pressure of challenging or overly ambitious timescales to deliver against, or a workload which seems to be increasing at an exponential rate that even the most organised and efficient BA would collapse under. It might be conflict with your stakeholders, or worse, your fellow project / programme teammates which adversely impacts you (we’ll deal with that one in another post). Worst of all, you may find yourself dealing with circumstances in your personal or private life which – unless you happen to be a high-functioning sociopath – you are unable to fully or even partially compartmentalise from your day-to-day responsibilities in the office, which sees your ability to…