Introducing an independent facilitator to work with a group or team can free the participants to focus on the business of the meeting or event - discussing an issue, making a difficult decision, planning the way ahead.  The facilitator helps the group to keep to the task and achieve the desired outcome by taking care of the process.

	all participants to contribute as equal members of the group
	managers and team leaders to focus on the content rather than having to give their attention to the process
	groups to make effective use of limited time
	participants to have confidence that the process is not being used to further a particular point of view