Though shall not make Sh&# up – Commandment No. 8
Last week we shared the Moscow Rules – the Ten Rules every spy should live by.
And this week, we felt inspired to climb the mountain and do battle with the burning bush to bring you our 10 Intelligence Analyst Commandments –
Here are 10 Rules that will guide your skills, and ability to make a difference in the world of Intelligence and in your organisation.
Living by these 10 Intelligence Analysis Commandments will give you a compass to be the best intelligence professional and guide you to success.
Download PDF of Analyst Commandments Here
1. Ask Questions.
If you don’t know something ask!
I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying there’s no such thing as a stupid question.
When it comes to Intelligence – this advice is well…gospel.
Nothing makes you look worse than guessing, or assuming something when the information is available.
This is the golden rule of Intelligence – and it applies at every stage of the intelligence cycle, and throughout any intelligence professional’s career.
2. Prioritise Your Efforts.
Intelligence is about prioritisation.
It’s about balancing what you could be doing with what you should be doing.
Every Intelligence analyst will always have competing Intelligence requirements from multiple customers, there are never enough hours in the day.
Your job is to prioritise, and F.O.C.U.S. – Follow One Course Until Successful.
3. Fight for Information.
Good Intelligence analysts fight for information. All the time.
I can’t tell you the amount of time I’ve had an analyst tell me ‘oh, I’ve sent an email but I haven’t heard anything back’ – NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
If it means picking up the phone, getting off your arse or arranging a coffee – do it!
The best analysts seek and find information; they don’t wait for it to come to them.
4. Leverage Experience.
Use the knowledge and experience of others.
As an intelligence analyst, you don’t need to know everything, but you do need to know where to get information, and who to talk to.
When I was deployed to the Middle East, I needed to research a particular trigger mechanism for a low-metal content Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs).
I’m not technical, so I sought out the Explosive Ordinance experts. I brought the team a coffee and sat with them for 30 minutes while they told me everything I needed to know.
When you’re considering what information means use the subject matter experts and their experience to develop your understanding and inform your assessments.
5. Done is Better than Perfect.
I’ve written about the 80% solution before and reiterated the importance of ‘timely and accurate reporting.
Heed this advice, remember that something is better than nothing.
While this doesn’t give you permission to pay off your effort or cut short your research, what is important is timelines!
If you’re working to a deadline, get something to the customer by the due date regardless don’t leave them waiting. Done is better than perfect.
6. Make a call.
I’ve seen it time and time again, Intelligence Analysts are afraid to actually make a call.
They’ve got all the information, but they’re scared of making an assessment because they don’t want to be wrong, or fearful of having a different opinion from someone else!
Get over it!
Analysts are paid to analyse and make assessments – the outcome of every conversation, email or intelligence brief should be your best assessment based on the information you have at hand.
7. Back yourself.
This goes hand in hand with the commandment above.
If you’ve done your analysis correctly, if you’ve looked at the information objectively, and you’ve made an assessment – F *&^#ing Own it!
Nothing crushes your professional credibility worse than an analyst who ‘isn’t sure’ or who can’t back their assessment in the face of scrutiny.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t change your mind in light of more information, but if you’ve done your job correctly – don’t get bullied for sticking to your guns!
8. Never (ever) Make Stuff Up.
This should be considered as one of the Intelligence Analysts’ Seven Deadly Sins – Never, EVER make s*#^ up!
Not only does this create false and misleading intelligence – it ruins your credibility in the eyes of your customers and it could legitimately put lives in danger, the lives of people who depend on your Intelligence.
It’s alright if you don’t know something, nobody knows everything.
There’s nothing wrong with saying ‘I’m not sure, but I’ll find out and get back to you, but the worst thing an Intelligence Analyst can ever do is make stuff up.
9. Build Your Network.
Intelligence is as much about who you know as what you know.
I’ve noticed Intelligence analysts tend to be a little introverted. Typically Analysts enjoy research, a majority prefer to work alone (or in small teams) and aren’t always the most social person in the room.
I get it. But remember, good Intelligence Analysts, know where to find the information they need when they need it.
This means knowing people in similar or supporting roles and turning to people who might be in a position to help.
Building your network is crucial for intelligence analysts because in the real world – this is how information sharing is done, through professional relationships.
10. Seek Feedback.
Last, but certainly not least, Intelligence Analysts should must always seek feedback.
Whether it’s an assessment, an understanding of a situation, during the direction phase or with an assumption – seeking feedback improves the quality of your Intelligence.
Feedback allows a deeper level of engagement with our intelligence customers, and it ensures we’re providing what the customer wants!
Feedback lets us know whether we’re doing the right thing and if we’re on the right path.
There’s no point operating in a vacuum and developing an intelligence product and completing the intelligence cycle only to find you’ve missed the mark – seek feedback early, regularly and often.
If you haven’t already, Download a copy of the 10 Intelligence Analyst Commandments here, and check out some of our other articles to become a better Intelligence Analyst;
- Four Simple Analytical Techniques You Can Start Using Today
- The Three Skills Every Successful Intelligence Analyst Needs To Master
- Intelligence Checklists: How to be prepared for any contingency
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- Then join us in our interactive Intelligence Training Course today.
Your Thoughts?
Let us know what you think of the Commandments and which ONE THING you think is more important, or makes a better analyst than all the rest.
Comment in the box below or email me directly at ben@intelligence101.com, I reply to all emails personally.
Until next time, think smart.