By Martina Welke, CEO/co-founder, Zealyst.

Before founding Zealyst, I studied conflict resolution and volunteered as a mediator for small claims court and family disputes.  I had no idea at the time that I was cultivating skills that would make me a better business leader, but the lessons I learned while helping people resolve disputes about property damage, resource distribution and parenting plans ultimately helped me to negotiate with investors, communicate more effectively with clients, and address potential conflicts with employees.

Here are 5 of the core mediation principles that have helped me launch my business:

1. “People aren’t against you, they’re just for themselves.”

2. Listen for values, not interests.

3. Make it safe.

4. Take a break.

5. Finally, write it down — in detail.

Read more about each of the 5 and the full  of the article at Forbes.com [HERE]