To provide a simple, practical guide to communication skills which might be useful to practising anesthesiologists.Selected citations from the literature on patient-physician communication, and the personal observations of the authors based on their reading and experiences.Basic communication skills are introduced, and then their application to clinical anesthesiology described. The possible benefits resulting from the enhancement of clinical communication are outlined. Strategies for tackling four commonly-encountered situations - handling others' feelings, imparting information, explaining complex concepts simply and breaking bad news - are presented. By taking a skills-oriented approach, we hope that readers will be encouraged to view this area of their work as one that can be improved upon with continued observation and practice.Communication skills can enhance medical practice and improve patient outcomes. We suggest that all anesthesiologists should give thought to their effectiveness in this area.