A collection of definitions from various authors Compiled by Sandor Schuman Group facilitation is a process in which a person who is acceptable to all members of the group, substantively neutral, and who has no decision-making authority intervenes to help a group improve the way it identifies and solves problems and makes decisions, in order to increase the group's effectiveness. The primary role of a facilitator is to assist parties to have a constructive dialogue.
Facilitators usually help groups set an agenda and manage the process of discussion.
For example, facilitators help the parties to recognize how their own styles of interacting or the institutional prejudices that they embody may interfere with constructive problem solving. Here the objective is to promote understanding among the parties. Additionally, facilitators may propose a series of process steps to keep the discussion on target. Facilitators may also explicitly help parties find a mutually agreeable solution to a dispute. The facilitator's role is to lead the group in drawing out answers, building a vision and developing plans that motivate everybody to achieve agreed upon goals - in short, to win.