When to Use an External Facilitator

It’s advantageous to use an outside facilitator in a number of situations, most notably when total neutrality is essential and the discussions require the full participation of all members. In addition, external facilitators enjoy several advantages, including that:

• they’re assumed to be credible
• they may have more experience leading some types of specialized discussions
• people are more likely to trust their neutrality
• they’re unencumbered by political or emotional baggage
• they can often afford to take more risks
• they can walk away from the repercussions of sensitive interventions
• they are paid for their efforts, so much can be asked of them