Again, the goal of the mediator is to engage the parties in a discussion of the dispute. Skillful mediators often learn that what one side considers critical is of little importance to the other side. The point is to narrow issues so the true nature of the disagreement is found. Then, most mediators attempt to have each side listen to the validity of the other side's position. A great deal of a mediator's work is to focus the sides on what they really want and to leave emotional considerations behind.
Mediation has a relatively high rate of success.
Partly this may be due to the fact that people who agree to mediate in the first place are people who truly want to end the dispute. As mediation is entirely voluntary in nearly all cases, the pool of persons who enter mediation includes only those who want to succeed in finding a resolution. However, mediators who are good at their business do know how to find common ground between parties and are skillful at breaking down emotional resistance to disputes. Most lawyers who have participated in mediation eventually wind up believing in it after seeing some remarkable results. Arbitration Arbitration is a binding form of alternate dispute resolution.