What are the most effective techniques a Business analyst can use for gathering requirements from stakeholders?

A Business analyst uses several techniques to effectively gather requirements from stakeholders. Key methods include interviews, where analysts directly engage stakeholders to understand their needs, and workshops, which encourage collaborative discussions for deeper insights. Surveys and questionnaires are useful for gathering input from larger groups, while focus groups provide qualitative feedback. Additionally, document analysis helps in reviewing existing materials, and observation allows BAs to understand workflows by seeing processes in action. Prototyping can also be beneficial, providing stakeholders with visual examples to refine requirements. Each technique helps ensure accurate, complete, and actionable requirements.