While Mediators must be excellent listeners and communicators while remaining neutral, other skills must be possessed and effectively employed.
- Knowledge of the applicable law
- Allows the Mediator to use strengths and weaknesses of the case to influence parties
- Credibility
- The Mediator must gain the respect of the parties
- Tenacity
- Keeping the parties talking even when it appears an impasse may have been reached
- Creativity
- Stepping outside of the box and knowing when to do so
- Persuasion
- Shuttling offers back and forth accomplishes little
- Persuasion while remaining neutral is the key
- Intuition
- Determine the actual interests of the parties rather than focusing on the legal positioning
- Get to know the room
- One of the parties may be the dominant force
