I’ve recently been working on writing other people’s bios for a couple of websites.
I tend to work with a lot of counselors, consultants and advisors (or advisers, depending on where they are from).
And I call myself a new media consultant.
For some reason, writing the bios made me think about why we choose the words we use when describing what we do for a living. (It also made me think that I should take a look at my own bio to make sure it’s up to date. First things first.)
Thinking about it, the acts of advising, consulting and counseling are really the same thing. It’s the perceptions we attach to the words themselves that affects how and when we use them and how we react to those words when we hear them.
For example, one person told me that consultants trade time for money and do the work, while advisers simply advise and lead the client to do the work themselves. Yet, when people think of counselors, they think of couches and courtrooms.
I decided to look up the official definition of each word. Here’s how Merriam-Webster defines advisers, consultants and counselors:
ad·vis·er or ad·vi·sor (
d-v
z
r) n.
1. One that advises, such as a person or firm that offers official or professional advice to clients.
2. An educator who advises students in academic and personal matters.
con·sul·tant (kn-s
ltnt) n.
1. One who gives expert or professional advice.
2. One who consults another.
coun·sel·or also coun·sel·lor (kouns-lr, -slr) n.
1. A person who gives counsel; an adviser.
Pretty much the same thing all around. Each helps an individual to reach goals by providing the tools and knowledge to help get them there.
Does it matter what language we use when defining what we do for a living? Do you expect a consultant to charge more than an advisor?
Maybe I’m just overthinking the semantics. Feel free to chime in.
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Clients want expert advice–and will pay for it. By positioning oneself as an expert advisor, and delivering high level advice, you provide clients true value. Keep in mind, regardless of what one calls oneself, you’ll be known by your reputation.
Agreed, Rick. In the end, it comes down to the value you deliver to clients. It doesn’t really matter what you call yourself.
I find it fascinating the way people interpret titles sometimes.
I agree that you’ll ultimately be known by the quality of work you produce, but there’s no getting around the fact that some people will always have certain associations with certain titles. I think it does matter to some extent, but ultimately you have to be happy with it, and be able to say “this is why”.
There’s a debate in my field about how non-formal and environmental educators refer to ourselves. Are we non-formal educators or informal educators? Are we environmental educators, naturalists or interpreters? Etc. I go with the title naturalist because I think it best describes what I do, but I also am aware that when I’m dealing with people way outside my field, some explanation will have to go along with it (i.e. – I don’t work in the nude…).
Ha! I have to admit, I had to think a bit about the title naturalist, but it made sense after reading your blog posts. It’s funny where people’s minds go. I’m still not a fan of the advisor, consultant or counselor labels, but I haven’t found a better word either. Ah, semantics.