Facilitation as a Profession: Values and Ethics You Can’t Ignore.

Facilitation is not a profession that you study at University; rather, it is something that many people fall into, usually by chance. If you are at the start of your journey as a facilitator as it is more a journey than a career, you must know the code of ethics and values that all professional facilitators strive to follow.

Preamble: Why Ethics Matter in Facilitation

Facilitators are called upon to fill an impartial role in helping groups become more effective. We act as process guides, creating a balance between participation and results.

The IAF emphasizes that our effectiveness is built on personal integrity and the trust we develop with those we serve. Because our work often touches sensitive issues - strategy, conflict, risk, power dynamics - it’s critical to be clear about the principles guiding us.

This is not theory. It’s the lived reality of group work. Without trust, the best processes and tools will fail. With trust, groups achieve results that surprise even themselves.

Statement of Values – What We Believe

As group facilitators, we believe in:

• The inherent value of the individual - everyone has something worth contributing.

• The collective wisdom of the group – groups can generate solutions no single expert could create alone.

• Neutrality – our job is not to push our views but to enable the group’s choices.

• Collaboration – cooperative interaction leads to consensus and meaningful outcomes.

Example: In a mining strategy workshop, the CEO may dominate discussion. A facilitator’s role is to ensure the quiet process engineer in the corner is also heard, because often the breakthrough comes from unexpected voices.

Code of Ethics in Practice

1. Client Service

We are in service to our clients - not as content experts but as process guides. That means understanding expectations and designing interventions that truly help the group achieve its goals.

Example: If the group realizes mid-session that their problem is different than what they originally thought, the facilitator helps them pivot, instead of forcing the original plan.

2. Conflict of Interest

Transparency is everything. If you have worked with one side of a conflict before, or if you have personal ties to a participant, disclose it. This prevents misunderstandings and protects credibility.

Example: Facilitating a session for a company where you used to work in management may not be appropriate without openly acknowledging your prior role.

3. Group Autonomy

Facilitators respect the group’s right to make its own choices. We do not impose solutions, even if we think we know the “better” answer.

Example: In a project framing workshop, the facilitator resists telling the team what scope to prioritize. Instead, they guide the group to weigh trade-offs and decide.

4. Respect, Safety, Equity, and Trust

This is the heart of facilitation: creating an environment where all participants can speak openly and feel valued.

Example: In a stakeholder alignment workshop, the facilitator ensures community members, contractors, and executives each have equal voice, despite differences in authority or expertise.

5. Stewardship of Process

We are guardians of process, not content. That means resisting the urge to influence outcomes. If we must share expertise, we signal clearly that we are switching roles.

Example: “I’m going to step out of my facilitator role for a moment to share some industry context. Then I’ll return to facilitation so you can decide how to use it.”

6. Confidentiality

Groups trust facilitators with sensitive conversations. That trust depends on confidentiality.

Example: After a merger workshop, you do not share who expressed concerns about job security; you simply reflect back patterns without attribution.

7. Professional Development

Facilitation is never “done.” We continuously learn by practicing, reflecting, and studying new methods.

Example: Many facilitators join peer learning networks, attend IAF conferences, or practice with new digital tools like Miro or Butter.

What This Actually Means

• Facilitation is about integrity. Groups can tell when you’re pushing an agenda.

• Facilitation is about neutrality. Your value lies in helping them discover the best way forward.

• Facilitation is about responsibility. Every action - choosing a tool, asking a question - is an intervention that shapes outcomes.

• Facilitation is about growth. You are never finished learning.

Final Reflection

Facilitation may not be a university degree, but it is a profession built on values, trust, and practice. By honoring the IAF’s Code of Ethics and applying it with integrity, facilitators can do more than “run meetings.”

We can help groups see clearly, decide wisely, and move forward together - making a lasting contribution to organizations and society.