Suppose after a tiring day at the office you return home to find your two children engaged in a squabble in the living room over the last remaining chocolate bar. The solution is obvious – cut it in half. However, if you were a facilitative mediator who practised interest based negotiation you might ask each of the children why they wanted it. You might also find that child#1 says they want a snack, but child#2 says they want the wrapper because it contains details of a competition they want to enter. That information leads to a much different resolution of the squabble with a better outcome for both children.
