Adjacent skills: the secret skills of top data analysts
Why technical skills alone won’t make you great, and what to focus on instead
👋🏽 Hey, it’s Ismail. Welcome to data nomads lab newsletter on learning data analytics, career growth, networking, building portfolios, and interview skills to break into tech role as a high-performer.
The best data analysts don’t just analyze data; They understand the broader picture.
Over the years, I’ve been asked, “How can I become a better data analyst?”
My answer has evolved, but one thing has stayed the same: only focusing on technical skills isn’t enough.
Yes, you need Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau & PowerBI and a good grasp of statistics. But if you only focus on the mechanics of data analysis, you limit your impact. The best analysts know how to think, not just how to query.
They develop expertise in adjacent disciplines. These areas give you the intuition to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and tell compelling stories with data.
Under the hood, the best analysts are also:
Business strategists
Storytellers
Psychologists
Communicators
(And sometimes all of the above)
These skills are the secret sauce that separates a great analyst from someone who just knows how to make charts.
If you want to level up, here are some key adjacent disciplines I recommend:
1. Business Thinking
Data is only as powerful as the decisions it influences. Many analysts focus on running queries and generating reports but struggle to tie their findings to real business impact. Understanding how businesses operate, what drives revenue, and what key stakeholders care about will set you apart.
Learn about:
Revenue drivers (cost vs. volume)
How different teams use data
What decisions your stakeholders need to make
How companies measure success
Identifying the real question behind the request
2. Communication & Storytelling
Numbers don’t speak for themselves—you have to make them resonate. A great analyst doesn’t just share data; they craft a compelling narrative around it. The ability to communicate insights effectively ensures your work leads to action instead of getting lost in a dashboard.
Learn about:
How to structure a narrative
Simplifying complex ideas
Making numbers feel real (percentages vs. raw numbers)
Using visuals effectively
Anticipating and addressing skepticism
3. Psychology & Behavioral Economics
Data is about people—how they think, behave, and make decisions. Understanding human psychology will sharpen your ability to interpret trends and predict behavior. People don’t always act rationally, and knowing why can help you make better recommendations.
Learn about:
Cognitive biases
Decision-making frameworks
How people perceive risk and reward
The psychology of persuasion
What motivates action
4. Data Engineering & Infrastructure
Most analysts hit a ceiling because they don’t understand where the data comes from or how it’s structured. Without a basic understanding of data engineering, you will struggle with messy data, inefficient queries, and unreliable pipelines.
Learn about:
How databases work
ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes
Data governance and quality
Common pitfalls in data pipelines
Writing efficient queries
5. Product & User Experience (UX)
If you work in tech, your data exists to improve a product. The best analysts understand how users interact with the product and what drives engagement. A deeper understanding of UX allows you to ask better questions and measure what truly matters.
Learn about:
User journeys and pain points
Conversion funnels
A/B testing methodologies
What makes a good metric
The difference between correlation and causation
6. Decision Science & Strategy
Data is valuable when it leads to better decisions. But many organizations struggle with decision paralysis. Your role is to help cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters.
Learn about:
Framing problems effectively
Identifying trade-offs
Prioritization frameworks
The limits of data-driven decision-making
When intuition and experience matter
7. Writing & Presenting
Your insights are only as good as your ability to communicate them. Writing well and presenting clearly ensures your findings have the impact they deserve.
Learn about:
Writing concisely
Structuring reports for clarity
Presenting data persuasively
Avoiding unnecessary complexity
Adapting your message to different audiences
Read about these topics. Practice them. Take on projects that challenge you to think beyond the numbers.
Mastering these adjacent disciplines will give you better judgment, clearer thinking, and stronger execution, which, at the end of the day, is what makes an analyst truly valuable.
Which of these skills are you most interested in improving?
Share your ideas in the comments, I would love to hear from you.