Periodically, I'm asked whether I'm an advisor or a consultant. For many years now, the answer I've provided has been 'advisor', often in an effort to avoid the stigma commonly associated with 'consultant'. (Consultants are the guys that borrow your watch to tell you the time, right?) However, as I've studied the English language more closely in the last couple of years, I've become much more comfortable with the term 'consultant', because it most accurately describes who I am and what I do. Let me explain.
Generally speaking (although perhaps somewhat simplistically):
While my priority as a pracademic is to think broadly about corporate governance and strategy in order to discover possibilities and pursue options, my clients are most interested in solutions to problems they face today – recommendations and answers – which fits nicely with my instinct to understand and solve problems. Now your turn: Are you an advisor or a consultant?
2 Comments
17/1/2014 01:43:14
Gday Peter
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17/1/2014 02:12:00
Thanks Alan, you make a good point. I've heard the "extra pair of hands" folk described as consultants as well, although I'd be more inclined to call them "contractors" or "specialist workers".
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