ABSTRACT

Working with colleagues can be a very effective way of improving health professionals' consultation skills as they will have a slightly different perspective and can help to point out any blind spots that they may have. 'Colleagues' can be a single individual or a small group, and can be someone from a different healthcare profession, for example a practice nurse and a doctor working together. It is worth making agreements about how and when the clinicians will work together and setting some basic ground rules before starting. Feedback from others will reduce blind spots. Disclosing to others will reduce the area of the façade. Doing both will increase the area of the 'arena' and decrease the area of the unknown. Discussing consultations with colleagues may feel threatening to a greater or lesser degree and there is no doubt that many doctors and nurses feel quite vulnerable about showing their consultation videos to others.