I found out years ago that I had a special knack for requirements gathering. Many times I'd be on a project with other developers and there’d be an endless circle of trying to guess what the end user wanted or needed. These discussions could last hours or even weeks.

I'd take a different approach though. I’d simply ask the stakeholder what they wanted. It’s amazing how that alone made things go much easier.

The reason that was effective is that I reduced ambiguity about the project’s desired outcome.

One time, I was having lunch with someone who worked in a creative profession. He told me there’s a difference between guys like him and guys like me. He uses the right brain. He can’t get ideas out of his head. I’m a left brainer, he said. I think logically and analytically.