Expert Or Advisor, Which Is Best For You?

Not All Advice is Equal

We all know that starting, managing, and growing a business is no easy task. But, while it seems that the internet has all the advice we need to achieve success, we find ourselves lost and overwhelmed with the heavy load of information it offers that we can no longer find what we are looking for.

The abundance of knowledge you can find online would be enough to overwhelm anyone with information overload, let alone acclaimed experts guaranteeing success and offering advice and services online and via social media.

You can find everything and everyone there, but first and foremost we should understand the differences between an expert and advisor and also define success before vetting an expert or advisor.

In this article I’ll share my experiences over the last decade working with both.

Advisors vs Experts

This Is What Sets Experts And Advisors Apart. 

What is an expert? 

The following are their core characteristics: 

1. They publish their knowledge or research to share it with people or receive feedback to improve what they already know.

2. They spend a lot of time studying their field and always look for ways to help people or advance their projects.

3. They tend to focus on a specific challenge an entrepreneur is facing in a functional area.

4. They are not all-inclusive as they tend to be very focused on their expertise.

5. They do not typically meet on a regular basis unless both parties are interested in a long-term engagement.

The focus for these relationships is on the specific challenge an entrepreneur is facing in a functional area. — Cintrifuse

On the other hand, advisors can be defined by the following: 

1. They function as a personal and confidential sounding board 

2. They take a look at the bigger picture as they are usually a shareholder

3. They offer multiple options and solutions and help you understand each choice 

4. They can also add a lot of business insights through their network  

5. They challenge your ideas and provide feedback and constructive criticism

Unlike mentors, advisors focus on the business itself rather than the person running it. — Cintrifuse

Conclusion

In my experience experts guide by providing proven, universally true strategies on a specific subject matter. They focus on providing answers and solutions based on their area of expertise.

In contrast, advisors provide counsel based on their personal experience within the industry at large. They also take a more outward in approach focusing more on the business outcomes. 

• If you need a narrow specialist for a project that requires one core specialty, you’ll need an expert.

• If you need someone who can give you a deep, broad perspective, you need an advisor. 
  

And sometimes you might find a unicorn who can do both 🦄