Business Analyst Skill Set

Core Competencies plus General Skills

By Alison Doyle

Professional business analysts play a critical role in a company's productivity, efficiency

and profitability. Important skill sets range from communication and interpersonal skills
to problem-solving and critical thinking. Business analyst skills can hone their skills
through executive education programs and eventually earn a Certified Business Analysis
Profession (CBAP) certification by the International Institute of Business Analysis.
Business Analyst Core Skills
Communication Skills
As an effective communicator, you must to able to facilitate work meetings, ask the right
questions, actively listen and take in new information. The ability to communicate
proficiently in person, on conference calls, in web meetings and through email is
essential. Business analysts spend a significant time interacting with clients, users,
management and developers. A projects success may revolve around your ability to
clearly communicate things like project requirements, changes and testing results.
Problem-Solving Skills
Every project you work on is, at its core, developing a solution to a problem. Business
analysts work to develop a common understanding of problems, outline the parameters of
the project and determine potential solutions.
Negotiation Skills
A business analyst is the intermediary between a variety of people with various types of
personalities: clients, developers, users, management and IT.

You have to be able to achieve a profitable outcome for your company while finding a
solution for the client that makes them happy. Balancing both acts takes persuasion skills
to reach a mutual solution while maintaining professional relationships.

Critical Thinking Skills

Business analysts must analyze multiple choices before leading the team towards a
solution. This includes critical review of data, documentation, user input surveys and
workflow. They ask probing questions until every issue is evaluated in its entirety and
fully understood before a course of action can be determined resolve the problem.
General Business Analyst Skills
Here's a comprehensive list of business analyst skills that employers seek in candidates.
Skills will vary based on the job for which you're applying, so also review our list
of skills listed by job and type of skill.
Personal Attributes

Ability to Adapt and Quickly Adjust to Change

Ability to Work in Fast Paced Environment
Ability to Work with Cross-Functional Teams
Analytical
Assessment
Attention to Detail
Creativity
Creative Thinking
Critical Thinking
Defining Problems
Detail Oriented

Decision Making
Diplomatic
Innovation
Instructing
Leadership
Listening
Meeting Deadlines
Multi-Tasking
Organizational Skills
Planning
Prioritizing
Written Communication

Interpersonal/Communication Skills

Building Consensus
Client Relationship Management
Collaboration
Communication
Conflict Resolution
Customer Service
Influencing Others
Interviewing
Negotiation
Teamwork
Verbal Communication
Presentation
Facilitating Meetings
Follow-Up
Navigating a Matrix Reporting Relationship

 Executing Change
Computer Skills

Microsoft Access
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Project
PowerPoint
SharePoint
SQL Queries
Software Design Tools
Visio

Analytical Skills

Designing and Implementing Tests of Processes

Forecasting
Gap Analysis
Documentation
Quantitative
Reporting
Research
Risk Assessment
Statistical Analysis
Taking Initiative
Technical Integration

Validate Functionality
Problem Solving
Process Mapping
Process Modeling
Project Management
Data Review
Visualizations
Eliciting and specifying project requirements
Financial Planning