The facilitator’s role is extremely important. He is the one that sets up the rules and the safety guidelines but then steps back and lets the team leaders and the members take on the important decisions. He is to help the team work together to reach the best possible choices by staying impartial and bringing out the natural leadership of team members.  The best way of putting it is that the facilitator is the coach of the team, giving instructions and encouragement from the sideline but not taking the primary leadership role away from the team captain or other key team members.