When clients come to you, they’re seeking solutions.
Typically, a new project, product, or feature development starts with the discovery process. Business analysts review available information and interview stakeholders to gather the necessary insights to create high-quality documentation. This documentation should be clear and detailed without being overwhelming.
To build effective relationships with your clients during the discovery process, follow these best practices:
Don't just spend a few minutes sending out or coming to meetings with standard discovery questions from a template. Instead, invest time in reviewing the information you already have, excluding irrelevant questions or those already covered in detail.
Research your client's business and industry standards. Prepare a tailored list of questions specific to their situation.
Put your thoughts into the discovery process. When asking open-ended questions, provide options and assumptions based on your preliminary research.
For example, instead of just asking, "What types of files should users be able to upload?"
Ask this: "Typically, such solutions allow users to upload only PDF and Excel documents. Should both of these file types be supported? Are there any other types of files that should be added to this list?"
Your genuine interest in the elicitation process and completing the discovery process with the intention of designing the most valuable solution improves collaboration and builds stronger client relationships.
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