Identifying some obstacles from intuition to a successful mediation process

Intuition and common beliefs can sometimes misguide the mediator and be obstacles to the success of mediation, when they are linked to behaviors which likely induce negative consequences in the process. Following four different stages of a mediation session, this paper names a series of such obstacles and explores their underlying intuitions, as well as their subsequent usual behavior and its rather negative effects. Each time, alternative strategies that increase expectations of success are suggested, with their expected outcome. This paper combines a descriptive approach of obstacles which increase the chance of a negative process and mediation failure, with a prescriptive approach of alternative behaviors that increase the chance of a positive process and mediation success.