The following list is not a declaration of what the powers of the facilitator role should be; rather, it is an acknowledgement of some of the powers that tend to come with the role. Brainstormed by the PDX Lab Series group.
The facilitator often “gets to” (or is expected to):
- be privy to more information
- agenda structure, planning, sequence & content
- choose space, set up room
- define group process characteristics
- frame the topic
- choose move/direction
- choose how deep to go
- interpret process/meaning
- speak the unspoken (name uncomfortable things)
- assign value
- decide reflective and break moments
- respond to input, or not
- self-define as having power
- talk more
- interrupt others
- act as enforcer of rules