I help project professionals get more done with less stress. Having been a project manager for over 20 years, I share tried-and-tested tips that work in the real world, every Tuesday. Join our community of over 15,000 project professionals (and accidental project managers too!).
What project managers can learn from business analysts
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Hello Reader, If you’ve ever had to wing it as the business analyst on a project, I’ve got a book recommendation for you. It’s called The Value-Driven Business Analyst by Laura Brandenburg, and while it’s written for BAs, I think it’s one of the most practical books out there for project managers. Laura’s 8-Step Business Analysis Process is basically a cheat sheet for getting to the real value behind any project. It's perfect for PMs who:
Brandenburg encourages PMs and BAs to:
She reframes business analysis not as gathering requirements, but as making change easier and more valuable. This mindset helps PMs build credibility with sponsors, product owners, and delivery teams alike. You’ll also find practical tools like:
Whether you’re just starting out or juggling multiple projects across departments, this book will help you lead from the middle and link what you do to real business outcomes. Laura is my go-to expert on all things business analysis. If you need some templates for your PMO or project, her collection is really good. Let me know what you think if you give it a read! Have a lovely week! Elizabeth More popular articles to read:
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Calling all Rebel Project Managers!
I help project professionals get more done with less stress. Having been a project manager for over 20 years, I share tried-and-tested tips that work in the real world, every Tuesday. Join our community of over 15,000 project professionals (and accidental project managers too!).
Hello Reader, Last week I co-hosted a webinar with Office Timeline, sharing tips about how to speed up making Gantt charts, roadmaps, schedules and timelines in PowerPoint. You can watch the replay here: At the beginning, I talk about the challenges of having to create slides with timelines on, which I'm sure you are well aware of, so feel free to skip my part and go straight to the PowerPoint demo for the tips on importing data, consistent formatting, using brand colours, changing...
Hello Reader, There’s been so much noise about AI in the last couple of years, but lately the conversation has shifted. It’s not just about getting clever answers from chatbots anymore – it’s about AI agents. These aren’t just tools you query. They’re AI “teammates” that can learn your way of working, adapt to your project context, and collaborate with you to get things done. If you’re wondering what that looks like in the real world – and what it means for how we manage work – there’s a free...
Hello Reader, One of the things that comes up often with new members of Project Management Rebels is how to facilitate a project meeting without knowing anything about what anyone else is talking about. Especially at the beginning, you’re not an expert. So you have very little to contribute in terms of content or helpful insights. What you can do is own the job you actually have and facilitate the process. Think about how you can add value with your comments without simply agreeing. You can...