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