Union and management negotiators seek bargaining team members who can keep their emotions and opinions in check. An indiscreet negotiating team member can unintentionally reveal confidential information about settlement positions and strategies to the other team. In some cases, union and management negotiators may agree to release information in the form of a joint statement to outside third parties (e.g., news media) during negotiations. This tactic helps to reduce rumors or misleading claims that can damage progress being made toward a settlement at the bargaining table. Where no such agreement exists, there may be a risk that one or both parties may choose to leak certain information about the contents of specific proposals, perceived road blocks to settlement, or a perceived lack of honest effort to reach an acceptable agreement. While such leaks may sway public opinion or shore up political support for negotiating team members, they can also damage the existing level of trust between the bargaining parties and delay progress on substantive issues as the leaks themselves become a topic of conversation at the bargaining table. One party may fear mentioning a possible alternative settlement approach on an issue for fear the other party may disclose the remark publicly as a firm and final position of the initiating party, rather than the idea starter or "trial balloon" it was intended to be.