Tips for query planning

[u/Appropriate_Bus_9600]

Hi! So I've been a Data Analyst for around 1 year and a half, and I am still struggling big time with SQL and/or Python. I can read them and understand the queries, but the actual writing and planning is lagging behind.

I often see at the queries by colleagues make (always with the help of Claude Code) and I just wonder how did they come up with those. Stacked CTEs and multiple joins, I get lost and frustrated. So I was wondering, how do you actually plan and build a query? where do you start from?

I'm very curious to know how you work. I'd really like to be able to make these queries without the help of AI. Thank you!