In arbitration, the parties themselves determine the outcome.

One of the core principles of mediation is voluntariness.

Mediation works best when there is only one potential outcome in a dispute.

In the “Option Generation” or brainstorming stage of the mediation process, the mediator should provide an evaluation of each idea proposed by the parties for resolving their dispute.

If during the negotiation process the parties reach an impasse, the mediator should try to diagnose what is getting in the way and help to get the parties “unstuck.”