Certain skills aid the mediator in this process. One skill is to have the dispute over interests identified, instead of just seeing the dispute as one of persons or of positions. Person Centered, Position Centered, Interest Centered Person centered disputes exist because of the personalities involved. Positioned centered disputes exist because people are taking incompatible positions. People are taking opposing sides on issues that they consider important.
Interest centered disputes exist because people have conflicting interests.
If one person gets what he or she wants then the other parties cannot get all of what they want. The emphasis is on what each person wants. This is centered on personalities. This is centered on positions. This is centered on interests.