What's The Difference Between An ANALYST And A CONSULTANT? And Why Does It Matter For YOUR Career?

The purpose of the final stage of the 30 Day Excel Analyst programme is to equip you with the tools and techniques you need to make an impact in the real world as an Excel analyst. The theme of this week’s sessions is ‘from Analyst to Consultant’. So, what’s an analyst, what’s a consultant and why does the distinction matter?

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Consider these two quotes: “If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take gets us to the wrong place faster” “It’s better to do the right thing wrong than the wrong thing right”

How might these two phrases, which might sound simplistic at first glance, shape your approach to Excel analysis?

I’ve seen many beautiful spreadsheets in my time. Dashboards, beautifully crafted models and automated VBA routines. I’ve seen it all – and I’ve created a few good-looking Excel implementations myself 😊 But, the critical mistake many Excel analysts make is just this: a fixation on Excel itself at the expense of the broader context of the project you’re undertaking.

Let me give you an example. I show you one of my Excel implementations – let’s say an interactive dashboard. You ‘have a play’ with it and it’s slick and easy-to-use. It feels pretty cool! Then you ask me ‘What’s the spreadsheet for?’

I explain the context is optimizing the manufacture of … diesel cars.

It’s a contrived example – but it’s a problem I see often in Excel development. Since diesel cars are likely to be obsolete in the next decade or so, due to broader industry and environmental trends, this example represents ‘leaning the ladder against the wrong wall’. It’s a case of ‘doing the wrong thing right’. Something that works well and looks good - but has little utility when viewed in context.

And that’s the key difference. A consultant views Excel in context whereas an analyst perhaps only sees … Excel itself.

To appreciate this distinction and move towards the richer, more strategic and more human-focused mindset of the consultant is, counter-intuitively perhaps, the fastest way to amplify the impact of your analytical work in Excel. And, don’t worry, though the ideas sound abstract, we’ll learn practical tools to get you started today. Welcome back to 30 Day Excel Analyst!