Glossary
What does “Facilitator” mean?
The person who runs the process of a meeting — keeping it to the agenda, making sure everyone is heard and helping the group reach a decision — usually without taking a side on the content.
What it means
The person who runs the process of a meeting — keeping it to the agenda, making sure everyone is heard and helping the group reach a decision — usually without taking a side on the content. A facilitator guides how the group works, not what it decides.
An example
In a strategy workshop, an outside facilitator runs the timings and exercises so the CEO can take part as a participant rather than run the room.
Not to be confused with: Chair
A chair often has formal authority and may take part in decisions; a facilitator focuses on the process and usually stays neutral.
Where you will see it
In workshops, retrospectives, planning sessions, community meetings and any meeting with a lot of people or conflict. Meetful has an AI facilitator mode.
Questions
What does a facilitator do?
Plans the agenda and methods, keeps time, invites quieter voices, handles conflict and makes sure the meeting ends with clear outcomes.
Can a team member facilitate?
Yes, as long as they can stay neutral; for contentious topics, someone from outside the group often works better.
Other meeting words
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