Consultants v. Leaders

​What is the difference between a consultant and a leader? A consultant is someone who gives advice to others on what to do. A leader is someone who takes action.
 
Giving advice is easy. Doing something is difficult.
 
Everyone has opinions. Many can make plans. Few do anything of their own accord.
 
Consultants have their place. Professional consultants are capable of providing in-depth, data-driven, specialized insights (in theory). Advisors play an important role in decisionmaking, providing a perspective that may be less biased because it is removed from the situation or shines light on an issue that they are more adept at identifying. Good leaders have good advisors and use good consultants to inform their decisions.
 
Giving advice is a skill. It’s an important skill. But is not the same thing as being good at carrying something out.
 
We need both people to give advice and people carry out actions. Which do you want to be?