In this episode, Bob Prentiss shares some hard truths about what we must be to achieve success in business analysis and other endeavors.

After listening to this episode, you'll understand:

  • The hard truths we need to understand to achieve success
  • How to overcome discomfort and have crucial conversations
  • Why it’s important  to be intelligently disobedient
  • Why knowing yourself is the first step in building a relationship with others

Show Notes

Bob’s teaching approach is about sharing little slices of bigger truths that allow us to think differently so we can learn and work differently.  Those truths go beyond the theory you’ll find in many books and allows people to apply the meaning to their own situations.

These big truths are life lessons; advanced competencies to allow you to expand your leadership and job specific skills.

 

Crucial Conversations

Most people shy away from difficult conversations, but it’s those crucial conversations that are key to changing behaviors that are impeding progress.  You need to have the courage and openness to discuss difficult topics.

The truth behind the myth is that not everything is solvable.  Having the conversation will often help, but go into it with an understanding that not everything is repairable.

 

Get Comfortable with Discomfort

These crucial conversations often make us feel uncomfortable.  We need to be able to feel that discomfort and do it anyway. Having a mentor, coach, or someone you can bounce ideas off of helps you overcome the discomfort.   Having a strategy is also key to success.

Having heroes or an imaginary mastermind group can give you insights and confidence to handle difficult situations.

 

Intelligent Disobedience

Sometimes we may need to disobey requests from managers or stakeholders if it’s not the right thing to do.  If you’re not being intelligently disobedient at least once a week, you’re probably doing a disservice to your organization. The key word is “intelligently”.  This requires you to think strategically, understand impacts, and have those difficult conversations.

Don’t blindly follow orders; think through the consequences and do the right thing.  Follow the value systems of your organization.

 

Stretch

Open your mind to create your own path and push your boundaries to know what you’re truly capable of.  To grow, you need to be able to influence your organization to accept progress over perfection. Having strong relationships and a support system in place will allow you to stretch yourself safely.  Create a safe to fail environment where you can experiment, learn, and grow.

 

Listen to the full episode to hear all of Bob’s conversation about hard truths that you need to understand to take you career to the next level.

 

Homework

Notice everything!  Expand your awareness and start noticing everything around you.  This includes people, how they are behaving, and anything new.  Having a greater awareness gives you the data to build better relationships.  Strong relationships is how work gets done.

 

Little Slices of Big TruthsLinks mentioned in this episode:

 

 

 

Bob Prentiss

Bob Prentiss

Bob the BA

Bob the BA provides badass business analysis training, consulting and mentoring services. Bob is passionate about helping you think, learn and work differently. Bob is CBAP® certified with 25+ years of experience in corporate America; with a background in managing BA centers of excellence, assessing and managing BA maturity, quality, and competency. Bob is an award winning curriculum developer and has presented numerous keynote, workshops, seminars, conferences, and training sessions across North America. He is also founding member and past President of the IIBA® MSP Chapter.

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