In training, a great deal of time and attention is devoted to consultation skills. However, once these individuals become fully fledged, few have any formal opportunity to reflect further on them. It is assumed that they can now consult well enough and will continue to learn 'on the job'. Over the years, habits can become ingrained, and clinicians may not consider alternative approaches to consultations. Sometimes doctors and nurses only really start to think about consultations when something starts to go wrong. Don't wait until then!