A chess expert and a doctor walk into an office...
This isn't a joke — it's a good way to see the difference between a strategist and a consultant.
The chess expert is like a strategist. They look at the whole game board. They plan moves ahead of time, think about what others might do, and make a plan to win.
The doctor is like a consultant. They're immediately ready to fix any problem in their wheelhouse that you can't fix by yourself.
But what if the chess expert needs surgery? Or what if the doctor has to play a tricky chess game?
Whether you are considering entering either of these roles or if you need to hire someone already in one of these roles to address your business needs, it’s important to know the difference between a strategist and a consultant.
What's a Strategist?
According to ZipRecruiter, a strategist develops a step-by-step guide for a company or group to achieve its long-term goals.
Here's what they do:
Look at the big picture: Strategists don't just focus on one problem. They look at factors like market trends, competition, and company strengths. They create plans to help the company as a whole reach its goals.
Plan for the future: They think about where the company should go in the next few years.
Spot opportunities: Strategists find new ways for a company to grow or beat the competition.
Consider risks: They also think about what could go wrong and how to avoid problems.
Communicate: They explain their ideas to key groups like managers, team leaders, and department heads so that all teams can work together.
A chess expert thinks about the whole game, not just the next move. They plan how to make their game better over time and how to win against tough opponents.
Quiz: Who Should Hire a Strategist?
Determine which candidate could solve their problem by hiring a strategist.
Aaliyah
Aaliyah's tech company is losing customers to new competitors. She doesn't know how to stay ahead in the market for the next five years.
Antonio
Antonio's restaurant is short-staffed and he needs help covering shifts for the next two weeks.
Emma
Emma's sporting goods store has a broken air conditioner, making customers uncomfortable in the heat.
Alex
Alex's accounting firm needs help teaching the staff how to use the new software they just bought.
Quiz
Which candidate could solve their problem by hiring a strategist?
What's a Consultant?
According to Coursera, a consultant gives expert advice to businesses or individuals to help them solve specific problems or improve their performance.
They don't just give advice. Here's what they do:
Come in from outside: Consultants don't work full-time for the company. They're helping, usually for a short time.
Identify problems: They look under the hood at how a company works and spot things that could be better.
Give advice and share knowledge: Consultants help the company solve their problems. They share what they know about specific topics.
Suggest ideas: Consultants often bring fresh ideas that people in the company might not have considered.
Teach: They suggest systemic changes and teach the company how to fix similar problems in the future.
Just like you visit a doctor when you're sick, companies call consultants when they have problems they can't solve on their own. Doctors don't just give advice, they fix problems too!
Quiz: Who Should Hire a Consultant?
Determine which candidate(s) could best solve their problem by hiring a consultant.
Isabella
Isabella wants to add gluten-free items to her bakery menu, but she doesn't know how to change recipes or avoid cross-contamination.
Tom
Tom needs to hire three new full-time workers at his toy store for the upcoming holiday season.
Timothy
Timothy's lawnmowers keep breaking down at his landscaping business, and he needs to find a reliable repair service.
River
River's software company is struggling to meet its yearly sales goals, and he can't figure out why.
Quiz
Which candidate(s) could solve their problem by hiring a strategist? Select all that apply:
Overlapping Skills
Now wait, you may have noticed some overlap between these skillsets. This is why many people confuse the roles of strategists and consultants. Both positions share the following qualities:
Problem-solving: Good at figuring out tricky situations.
Research: Collecting and analyzing information to make smart choices.
Communication: Explaining ideas clearly to others.
Business knowledge: Understanding how companies work effectively.
Creativity: Coming up with new ideas.
Teamwork: Working with many different people in a company.
Types of Strategists and Consultants
Lastly, there are different types of strategists and consultants. This makes sense since strategists and consultants have niche skills and are often experts in their fields.
Types of Strategists
Business strategist
Marketing strategist
Brand strategist
Digital strategist
Financial strategist
Human resources strategist
Product strategist
Corporate strategist
Growth strategist
Innovation strategist
Types of Consultants
Management consultant
IT consultant
Financial consultant
Human resources consultant
Marketing consultant
Operations consultant
Environmental consultant
Legal consultant
Education consultant
Engineering consultant
This is by no means a comprehensive list, there are many other types of strategists and consultants too!
Quiz: Sofia's Career Path
So now you understand the difference between a strategist and a consultant. Consider Sofia's skillset and determine if she would be best suited for a strategist or consultant role.
Sofia's Skills
She's great at solving specific problems quickly.
She's an expert in her field and keeps learning new things.
She can use her expertise to explain complex ideas in simple ways.
She enjoys applying her knowledge to work on new projects with new teams.
Quiz
Is Sofia better suited to be a strategist or a consultant? Think about how her skills match what each job needs.
Take Action
In summary, it’s important to understand that a strategist focuses on making long-term plans, while a consultant gives expert advice to solve specific problems, so they have different jobs in solving challenges.
Your feedback matters to us.
This Byte helped me better understand the topic.