Guess who's not coming to dinner?

As many good hostesses will attest, thinking about who will - and won't - hit it off over dinner is one ingredient in planning a successful get together.

Yes: bringing people together involves elements of alchemy.

And so it is, with mediation, including - and, in some cases, especially - making an honest and objective assessment about whether each proposed attendee's presence is likely to help, or hinder, the reaching of a resolution.

In mediation, careful thought about who should - and should not - "come to dinner" is a vital ingredient.

For further thoughts on attendees at mediation click here.