Facilitator's Role

Frank Blechman

Private Consultant, Formerly at the Institute of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University

Interviewed by Julian Portilla, 2003


This rough transcript provides a text alternative to audio. We apologize for occasional errors and unintelligible sections (which are marked with ???).

A: I would like to think that what I've done, certainly as a facilitator in public processes, is to amplify the good intentions of the parties.

Q: Is that generally what you see the role of a facilitator as being?

A: In large public processes. In small public processes it's much more the managing and orderly processes that are keeping people on time and on point. In large processes and in public policy we have a lot of people. You can't attend to them all and you certainly can't manage them. The issue is to create an environment and a framework in which they manage themselves, manage the interaction with each other and keep themselves focused toward a positive outcome.