Powers of the Facilitator Role

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

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