What's the difference between a strategist and a consultant?

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.

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:

1. 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.

2. Plan for the future: They think about where the company should go in the next few years.

3. Spot opportunities: Strategists find new ways for a company to grow or beat the competition.

4. Consider risks: They also think about what could go wrong and how to avoid problems.

5. 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.

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.

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:

1. Come in from outside: Consultants don't work full-time for the company. They're helping, usually for a short time.

2. Identify problems: They look under the hood at how a company works and spot things that could be better.

3. Give advice and share knowledge: Consultants help the company solve their problems. They share what they know about specific topics.

4. Suggest ideas: Consultants often bring fresh ideas that people in the company might not have considered.

5. 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!

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.

Photo by Microsoft 365 on Unsplash

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:

1. Problem-solving: Good at figuring out tricky situations.

2. Research: Collecting and analyzing information to make smart choices.

3. Communication: Explaining ideas clearly to others.

4. Business knowledge: Understanding how companies work effectively.

6. Creativity: Coming up with new ideas.

7. Teamwork: Working with many different people in a company.

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!

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.

Photo by Jens Lindner on Unsplash

Sofia's Skills

1. She's great at solving specific problems quickly.

2. She's an expert in her field and keeps learning new things.

3. She can use her expertise to explain complex ideas in simple ways.

4. She enjoys applying her knowledge to work on new projects with new teams.

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.