Attributes of a good facilitator include professional competence in resource issues and the ability to work with people to achieve consensus. In particularly difficult situations, a facilitator with no perceived bias may be necessary, but usually the planning group can agree on a local facilitator who will remain impartial when running the meetings.

Attributes of Effective Facilitators

An Effective Facilitator:

• Creates a safe working environment in which members can contribute their thoughts and ideas.
• Gets agreement through consensus on desired outcomes/agenda.
• Suggests ways to proceed and checks for agreement, as a process advocate.
• Makes sure everyone has a chance to participate.
• Promotes respectful listening.
• Keeps discussions and interactions orderly and on track.
• Ensures that time is monitored and information is recorded.
• Listens and observes.
• Defends others from personal attack.
• Remains neutral and does not contribute content ideas or evaluate group members’ ideas.
• Knows when and how to get others to perform the facilitating and recording functions.
• Balances process and content focus.

The facilitator creates the environment: