What does it mean to be a

consultant?

Greythorn North America

What is the difference between a contractor

and a consultant?

Contractor

Hired for a specific task/job

Experienced, but not always

an SME

Project-focused

Short term engagements

Does not need to assimilate

into the company culture

Consultant

Hired to solve a

problem/create a solution

Serve as an advisor/SME to

the host company

Demonstrates ownership of

the role

Subject matter expert

Career-focused

Logistical differences

How each professional bills the work they do

Cost of the work they perform

Amount of travel that is required

If you look at the words ‘contractor’ and ‘consultant’ as just words and realize

that the primary difference is a mindset, then perhaps you have the key to your

future success. Whichever term you best identify with, your reputation and

positioning are the keys to landing the next engagement.

How to communicate like a consultant

Be concise – it’s harder to get what you want or help the client understand what they actually

want if you give lengthy explanations.

Start off with a positive statement – if you begin the conversation in a positive way, there will

be less room for negative perceptions. Focus your communication on the positive and how you

will work together to complete the project. When you make others feel that they are being heard

and their opinions are being considered, you will achieve faster and better results.

Make statements that start with I – psychologist Haim Ginott noticed that statements that start

with you instead of I are usually more likely to be perceived as critical and to make others

defensive. Instead of saying “you are not doing the job well” you can say “I see some areas that

we can improve upon”. The I and we pronouns allow for an open, non-abrasive dialog.

Talk clearly about what you want – humans are not mind readers. So whether it’s during an

interview, a meeting with a potential client, or nearing the end of project lifecycle, never assume

your audience is already aware of what you are looking for.

Long-term benefits of being a consultant

Changing lifestyle

Versatility

Travel

Industry variety

Project variety

Valuable contributions to real

business issues

Experience across multiple

professional settings

Working on cross-functional

projects

Experience a variety of company

culture

Exposure and collaboration with all

levels of management and staff

Potential local projects – stay close

to home

Becoming a subject matter expert

in your chosen market

GREYTHORN.COM/SBA

For more information on our Senior Business Analyst roles in the

consulting industry, please visit us at:

What does it mean to be a

consultant?

Greythorn North America