facilitator
Neutral meeting leader
A facilitator is someone who makes a process easier or helps a group accomplish something.
The term often describes a person who guides meetings or workshops without dictating outcomes: The facilitator kept the discussion on track without taking sides.
In broader use, facilitator can describe anyone or anything that enables an activity: Social media has become a facilitator of political organizing.
One who resolves disputes
- negotiatorOne who bargains professionally
- peacemakerConflict resolution agent
- intermediaryAgent linking two parties
- go-betweenAgent connecting separate parties
conciliator · diplomat · dialogue · reconciler · conflict-resolution · bridge-builder · impartial · peacebuilding
Arrangement tool or person
- plannerAgenda for scheduling
- schedulerOne who arranges timing
- arrangerOne who orders elements
- administratorPerson who manages operations
manager · moderator · convener · orchestrator · director · supervisor · liaison · project-manager
One who presates proceedings
- breakoutSudden escape from restraint
- icebreakerTension-easing social activity
- brainstormingGenerating many ideas freely
- whiteboardErasable marker writing surface
sticky-notes · participatory · debrief · agenda · round-robin · fishbowl · design-thinking · charette
One who instructs
- advisorOne who gives guidance
- counselorOne who advises
- guideLeader or instruction book
- trainerOne who conditions others
teacher · tutor · consultant · preceptor · guru · sensei · sage · sounding-board
Gaining authority or confidence
- catalystAgent enabling change
- advocatePublic cause supporter
- sponsorFunder of activities
- supporterOne who backs another
backer · promoter · activator · spark · instigator · driver · accelerator · galvanizer
Religious leader or serve
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- pastoralOf countryside or clergy care
- deaconJunior clergy member
- catechistReligious doctrine instructor
parish · congregation · retreat · formation · communion · liturgy
Formal evaluative conversations
- focus-groupMarket research gathering
- personaAssumed public identity
- wireframeEdge-only geometric model
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
scenarios · ethnography · co-design · screener · think-aloud · moderated · unmoderated
arbitrator
One who resolves disputes
- negotiatorOne who bargains professionally
- peacemakerConflict resolution agent
- intermediaryAgent linking two parties
go-between · conciliator · diplomat · dialogue · reconciler · conflict-resolution · bridge-builder · impartial · peacebuilding · settlement
organizer
Arrangement tool or person
administrator · manager · moderator · convener · orchestrator · director · supervisor · liaison · project-manager · logistics
moderator
One who presates proceedings
- breakoutSudden escape from restraint
- icebreakerTension-easing social activity
- brainstormingGenerating many ideas freely
whiteboard · sticky-notes · participatory · debrief · agenda · round-robin · fishbowl · design-thinking · charette · retrospective
coach
One who instructs
trainer · teacher · tutor · consultant · preceptor · guru · sensei · sage · sounding-board · encourager
empowerment
Gaining authority or confidence
supporter · backer · promoter · activator · spark · instigator · driver · accelerator · galvanizer · mobilizer
minister
Religious leader or serve
catechist · parish · congregation · retreat · formation · communion · liturgy
interviews
Formal evaluative conversations
- focus-groupMarket research gathering
- personaAssumed public identity
- wireframeEdge-only geometric model
prototype · scenarios · ethnography · co-design · screener · think-aloud · moderated · unmoderated
- helpersnurse, helper, volunteer, aide, assistant
- teachersteacher, tutor, tutors, instructor, instructors
- collaborationteamwork, partnership, co-creation, alliance, sharing
- conferencesconference, symposium, conferences, keynote, forums
- Dealmakingdeal, negotiator, bargaining, offer, counteroffer
- Employee Trainingorientation, onboarding, safety training, skill building, mentoring
facilitatorobstructor
One who blocks progress
inhibitor · blocker · hinderer · impediment · obstacle
facilitatordictator
Ruler with total control
controller · autocrat · authoritarian · decision-maker · director
facilitate, facilitation, facilitated, facilitates, facilitating, facilitators, facilitative