How A Mediator Can Get You Out Of An Impasse

Mediators have to be adept in soft skills to identify and break down the causes of an impasse between opposing sides. DSF lawyer and mediator Eric Gossin shares his wisdom and experience on the tricky task of bridging often seemingly insurmountable differences.

Grasping underlying issues

Disputes are often multilayered, and it takes a skilled mediator to peel them back and understand what's at the core. A superior mediator has the skill to read between the lines and intuitively understand what the issues are that are not spoken about. For example, in an estate matter between siblings, the background of their relationship needs to be taken into consideration. At times it may be necessary to address the personal issue that the father has always favoured one of the other and the hurt feelings this caused in order to be able to get to a compromise regarding the legal issue.