Comments on: The value of an open mind in conversations http://www.bridging-the-gap.com/the-value-of-an-open-mind-in-conversations/ Advance Your Business Analysis Career Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:08:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kupe http://www.bridging-the-gap.com/the-value-of-an-open-mind-in-conversations/comment-page-1/#comment-1182 Kupe Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:18:22 +0000 http://www.bridging-the-gap.com/?p=1142#comment-1182 This is the exact reason I tell everyone to take an Improv class or two! Laura, like you I am a huge fan of Improv and performed with a group in Atlanta back in the 90's. It sounds funny to say "back in the 90's." One of the keys of improv is having an open mind and not thinking ahead or anticipating what the other actors are going to say. You need to be in the moment. I feel my improv training is what allows me to be a better listener and a better BA. This is the exact reason I tell everyone to take an Improv class or two! Laura, like you I am a huge fan of Improv and performed with a group in Atlanta back in the 90′s. It sounds funny to say “back in the 90′s.”

One of the keys of improv is having an open mind and not thinking ahead or anticipating what the other actors are going to say. You need to be in the moment. I feel my improv training is what allows me to be a better listener and a better BA.

]]> By: DougGtheBA http://www.bridging-the-gap.com/the-value-of-an-open-mind-in-conversations/comment-page-1/#comment-1180 DougGtheBA Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:36:37 +0000 http://www.bridging-the-gap.com/?p=1142#comment-1180 Hey Laura: I think the preparation that a BA can do for communication with customers should be as focused as possible with regard to background information and facilitation (how to react to different scenarios to keep the meeting on track, like you said). However, the analyst, I believe, really shines in being able to adapt quickly to unforeseen circumstances, perceptions, information and attitudes. To this point, I think a final piece of preparation for a good BA should be to clear one's mind of perceptions, so that this person can react, but also not skew the outcome of the interaction toward what the analyst thinks is correct or wants to see happen. Hey Laura:

I think the preparation that a BA can do for communication with customers should be as focused as possible with regard to background information and facilitation (how to react to different scenarios to keep the meeting on track, like you said). However, the analyst, I believe, really shines in being able to adapt quickly to unforeseen circumstances, perceptions, information and attitudes. To this point, I think a final piece of preparation for a good BA should be to clear one’s mind of perceptions, so that this person can react, but also not skew the outcome of the interaction toward what the analyst thinks is correct or wants to see happen.

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