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What does a performance consultant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Brian Simmons

Performance Consultants are individual contributors who help the company manage the business or employee performance. They have a proven track record of performance improvement based on client engagement. Performance Consultants review the data available to them, as provided by the company. Using these data, they look for patterns and trends that may help analyze the current performance. They would then analyze these patterns and trends so that they can provide recommendations to the company. Performance Consultants do not necessarily need to implement their recommendations. However, they usually guide the company throughout the implementation. They are also involved in the evaluation process.

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Performance consultant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real performance consultant resumes:

  • Research and lead the integration of an ERP system for dairy manufacturing.
  • Manage concurrent training development projects using Microsoft SharePoint.
  • Provide daily office support and assist in managing payroll, accounts/aging accounts receivable, review insurance denials and balance payments.
  • Manage a team responsible for designing service-orient application architecture, standards and best practices guidelines, security and data access frameworks.
  • Optimize existing ITSM processes by leveraging ITIL best practices.
  • Research / summarize shared services and enterprise resource planning (ERP) best practices / benchmarks.
  • Used SQL, advance reporting skills to isolate areas of weakness and model propose solutions for management review.
  • Administer SharePoint repository of training materials for the project.
  • Complete the reconcilement of PCard transactions for all treasury management accounts.
  • Execute industry accept techniques including windows analysis and bifurcate progress analysis.
  • Evaluate all branch banking experiments from physical redesign to major process redesign.
  • Extend CRM technology expertise and customize product offerings for Microsoft CRM implementation.
  • Serve as internal consultant to support performance improvement, including telephone system redesign.
  • Utilize Visio software for process flows.facilitate the transformation from inward looking and function base processes to customer centric businessprocesses.
  • Monitor and motivate progress on crucial infrastructure and HVAC installations, effectively eliminating the possibility of contractually excusable delays.

Performance consultant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 9% of Performance Consultants are proficient in Process Improvement, Customer Service, and Healthcare. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Problem-solving skills, and Time-management skills.

We break down the percentage of Performance Consultants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Process Improvement, 9%

    Consult to senior executives on transformation preparation, strategic prioritization, initiative planning, issue identification, and process improvement efforts.

  • Customer Service, 8%

    Provide high level assistance and training to front-line Customer Service Representatives to improve/enhance their referral /sales skills while increasing Customer Satisfaction.

  • Healthcare, 8%

    Collaborated closely with diverse teams and captured business requirements to translate them into useful data for a healthcare specific application.

  • Project Management, 7%

    Lead the design, project management and implementation of continuing education projects/solutions that support skill development and performance system improvement.

  • Performance Improvement, 7%

    Partnered across organizational levels, functional areas and departments to determine performance improvement processes, training needs and return on investment.

  • Professional Development, 6%

    Coached sales departments on implementing professional development initiatives, which aided the sales team in maximizing revenue potential.

Common skills that a performance consultant uses to do their job include "process improvement," "customer service," and "healthcare." You can find details on the most important performance consultant responsibilities below.

Interpersonal skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a performance consultant to have is interpersonal skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "management analysts work with managers and other employees of the organizations for which they provide consulting services." Performance consultants often use interpersonal skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "provided customer service and interpersonal skills. "

Problem-solving skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling performance consultant duties is problem-solving skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "management analysts must be able to think creatively to solve clients’ problems." According to a performance consultant resume, here's how performance consultants can utilize problem-solving skills in their job responsibilities: "collaborated and consulted with internal business customers and peers to recommend performance improvement solutions that align with strategic initiatives. "

Time-management skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of performance consultants is time-management skills. This skill is critical to many everyday performance consultant duties, as "management analysts often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "project completed on time with high customer satisfaction. "

Analytical skills. A big part of what performance consultants do relies on "analytical skills." You can see how essential it is to performance consultant responsibilities because "management analysts must be able to interpret information and use their findings to make proposals." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical performance consultant tasks: "assisted in data analysis to determine outcome/impact of training programs. "

Communication skills. Another common skill required for performance consultant responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of performance consultants all the time, as "management analysts must be able to convey information clearly in both writing and speaking." An excerpt from a real performance consultant resume shows how this skill is central to what a performance consultant does: "collaborated on and/or facilitated: train-the-trainer for hr recruiters- effective interviewing; communication styles; advanced ira; advanced fraud. "

See the full list of performance consultant skills

The three companies that hire the most performance consultants are:

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Compare different performance consultants

Performance consultant vs. Business analyst-consultant

A business analyst-consultant is responsible for overseeing the project management and ensuring that the operations meet the agreed-upon project deliverables. Business analyst-consultants closely coordinate with the clients for their specifications and requirements, monitoring the resources and processes for the project completion, and aligning those to the clients' budget goals. A business analyst-consultant helps the development team on strategizing techniques for brand promotions with minimal costs with maximum quality and productivity. They should have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on identifying business opportunities to drive revenues and increase profitability.

If we compare the average performance consultant annual salary with that of a business analyst-consultant, we find that business analyst-consultants typically earn a $20,800 higher salary than performance consultants make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both performance consultant and business analyst-consultant positions are skilled in process improvement, project management, and data analysis.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, performance consultant responsibilities require skills like "customer service," "healthcare," "performance improvement," and "professional development." Meanwhile a typical business analyst-consultant has skills in areas such as "strong analytical," "business analysts," "user acceptance," and "business analysis." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Business analyst-consultants tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $105,940. In contrast, performance consultants make the biggest average salary, $78,195, in the professional industry.The education levels that business analyst-consultants earn slightly differ from performance consultants. In particular, business analyst-consultants are 1.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a performance consultant. Additionally, they're 1.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Performance consultant vs. Business consultant

A business consultant is an individual who works directly with business owners on developing a business plan and identifying their marketing needs. Business consultants offer business owners a wide range of services, such as supplementing existing staff, provide expertise in a specific market, and influencing other people. To increase revenue in business, business consultants should have experience success with the previous business owners. Business consultants must also have a bachelor's degree in business management and received years of field training.

On average, business consultants earn a $17,887 higher salary than performance consultants a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Performance consultants and business consultants both require similar skills like "process improvement," "customer service," and "healthcare" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real performance consultant resumes. While performance consultant responsibilities can utilize skills like "performance improvement," "professional development," "performance management," and "lean six sigma," business consultants use skills like "strong analytical," "analytics," "tableau," and "business analysis."

Business consultants may earn a higher salary than performance consultants, but business consultants earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $89,294. On the other hand, performance consultants receive higher pay in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $78,195.In general, business consultants achieve similar levels of education than performance consultants. They're 3.8% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for performance consultants in the next 3-5 years?

Dr. Brian SimmonsDr. Brian Simmons LinkedIn profile

Associate Provost, Columbia International University

COVID 19 has necessitated a rapid academic response to the educational needs of students. Teaching and learning that was conducted in a F2F mode of content delivery were thrust online last spring. Today, much teaching and education continue to be offered, either online or in a blended format. When we get beyond the pandemic, we will engage in reflective practice to glean from our experiences. My hunch is that there will be a new standard and more willingness to engage students online via learning management systems.

Performance consultant vs. Strategy consultant

A strategy consultant specializes in examining and analyzing business processes to identify areas needing improvement, ensuring to provide strategies for optimal performance. A strategy consultant may work as a member of a company or as a freelancer. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around discussing business vision and goals with clients, assessing the workflow and the workforce of a company, observing competitors, identifying risks, and recommending strategies for profitable growth and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, as a strategy consultant, it is essential to adhere to the company's vision and mission throughout the process.

An average strategy consultant eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of performance consultants. The difference in salaries amounts to strategy consultants earning a $45,917 higher average salary than performance consultants.By looking over several performance consultants and strategy consultants resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "process improvement," "healthcare," and "project management." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, performance consultants are more likely to have skills like "customer service," "performance improvement," "professional development," and "performance management." But a strategy consultant is more likely to have skills like "digital transformation," "develop recommendations," "client facing," and "market research."

Strategy consultants earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $114,533. Performance consultants earn the highest pay from the professional industry, with an average salary of $78,195.When it comes to education, strategy consultants tend to earn higher degree levels compared to performance consultants. In fact, they're 6.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Performance consultant vs. Implementation consultant

An implementation consultant is an individual who travels to various job sites to help clients with the installation of different software and hardware solutions. Implementation consultants must be knowledgeable of the software application so that they can conduct training sessions for internal and external customers. They develop system teaching aids such as training handbooks, demonstration models, and multimedia visual aids. Implementation consultants must also obtain technical certification, particularly on the specific software and hardware they install.

Implementation consultants typically earn higher pay than performance consultants. On average, implementation consultants earn a $10,868 higher salary per year.According to resumes from performance consultants and implementation consultants, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "process improvement," "customer service," and "healthcare. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between performance consultants and implementation consultants, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a performance consultant might have more use for skills like "performance improvement," "professional development," "performance management," and "sigma." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of implementation consultants require skills like "technical support," "erp implementation," "implementation process," and "client facing. "

The pharmaceutical industry tends to pay the highest salaries for implementation consultants, with average annual pay of $90,837. Comparatively, the highest performance consultant annual salary comes from the professional industry.In general, implementation consultants hold lower degree levels compared to performance consultants. Implementation consultants are 8.4% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of performance consultant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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