The BA Chronicles

Being a Project BA means constantly taking on multiple projects across different business domains, which often means working in unfamiliar areas and starting from scratch. That means learning a huge amount in a very short time.

My problem was , when I sat in meetings and they would be discussing specific aspects or systems in detail, I would think “I should already know this. If I ask, they’ll realize I’m not as good as they think I am.” We know that part of that is the imposter syndrome talking. You are basically convincing yourself that asking simple questions makes you look weak. When, in reality, those simple questions are often the ones that really need to be asked.

We want to look smart!

As Business Analysts, we’re supposed to be the ones connecting the dots, getting the requirements nailed down and often have people turn to us for clarity. And because of that, we often feel this pressure to always have the answer.

So when you realise you don’t know, that inner critic starts:

“You’re not good enough.”

“They’re going to find out you’re faking it.”

“If you were really a good BA, you wouldn’t need to ask that.”

So, what is the easiest to do? Don’t ask. Stay silent. You nod and slightly panic. And that question you had will continue to haunt you, so you try to find out after that meeting, taking up extra time and stopping you from asking more relevant questions.

Why we stop ourselves

We hold back because imposter syndrome whispers that asking basic questions proves we don’t belong. Everyone else understands this, so I should too.

But here’s the honest truth: for those people this is their everyday work!

Asking questions, especially the simple, foundational ones, is a sign of strength. It shows you’re not just blindly accepting answers. You’re thinking critically, stress-testing the logic, and making absolutely sure the foundation is solid before the team moves forward.

The Imposter’s loop

Imposter syndrome gets you in a cycle.

1. You feel pressure to appear competent.
2. You stay quiet to avoid being “found out.”
3. That silence reinforces your self-doubt.
4. You leave the meeting feeling like you didn’t add any value.

Breaking that loop, I learned, starts with one uncomfortable step: asking anyway.

How I slowly got over it

For a long time, I played it safe. I’d get out of meetings with questions in my head that I’d just tell myself, “It’s too late now,” or “I’ll figure it out later.” Of course, “later” then meant scanning through documents or trying to reverse-engineer decisions I didn’t fully understand at the time.

When I became more confident, it finally hit me: staying silent wasn’t protecting me at all. It was holding me back and every time I didn’t ask a question, I said yes to the lie that I wasn’t good enough. I was dumb.

So, I needed to change.

I told myself I had to ask just one question in my next meeting, even if it felt stupid.

When I got a helpful answer I challenged myself to ask another.

Sometimes I would notice something really good: people actually appreciated the questions. Some even said, “Good questions, I hadn’t thought of that.” (insert happy dance here)

That was my turning point. I realized that the questions I thought made me look “dumb” were actually the ones bringing the most value.

My mindset began to shift, from “I should know this,” to “It’s my job to make sure we all know this.”

It stopped being about me looking smart. It became about ensuring the project was built on solid ground.

3 Steps I used to beat my inner imposter

These simple steps helped me silence that nagging voice:

1. Set a “one-question” rule. I literally gave myself permission to ask at least one question in every single meeting. The more I practiced, the less intimidating it felt.
2. Reframe the fear. Instead of thinking, “What if they think I’m stupid?” I started asking myself, “What if no one asks this, and it becomes a massive problem later?”
3. Collect proof of impact. Each time my question prevented confusion, clarified something critical, or highlighted a gap, I wrote it down. Seeing the real impact helped me a lot.

How to ask questions

You can absolutely ask foundational questions without feeling small or insecure. Try these tips:

• Normalize curiosity. Use phrases like: “Just to ensure we’re all aligned…” or “Can I confirm this assumption?” These make your question sound like a quality check, which is exactly what it is.
• Shift focus from you to the project. Instead of dwelling on, “I’ll look stupid,” ask yourself: “What’s the cost if we all assume this and it turns out to be wrong?”
• Ask for clarity early. The longer you wait, the harder it gets. It’s always easier to ask a simple question at the start than to admit later that something went wrong because you didn’t speak up.
• Document what you uncover. If your question surfaces a risk or a gap, make sure you capture it. You’re not just asking, you’re actively preventing issues.

Real impact comes from clarity, not your ego

The best Business Analysts I know aren’t the ones who look the smartest in every meeting. They’re the ones who consistently bring clarity, even when it means admitting they don’t have all the answers.

I now can ask questions that made me cringe at first, only to have someone say afterward, “I’m so glad you asked that. I wasn’t sure either.”

Looking like you know everything isn’t the goal. Make sure your team knows what’s true, what’s real, and what’s clear, that’s what makes you invaluable.