The perioperative period can be a life-changing event for many patients, the effects of which can be lifelong for better or worse. The anaesthetist’s communication at this time can have a profound impact on the care of their patients in the matter of both short-term cooperation and long-term perceptions of their hospital experience. Induction of anaesthesia is a stressful time for many patients, young and old. There is an inevitable loss of control when the patient hands this over temporarily to the anaesthetist. In order to enhance cooperation, anaesthetists will reap unexpected benefits by avoiding the use of negative language. Well-meaning staff may, however, sabotage an otherwise smooth induction by telling patients, ‘There is nothing to worry about’ with the implicit suggestion that there is ‘something to worry about’. Unfortunately such well-meaning statements, even when directed at children, tend to yield the opposite effect of what is intended. Patient stress at this time increases suggestibility such that comments frequently function as inadvertent suggestions—be they positive or negative. This can be utilized to enhance the anaesthetist’s ability to provide a smooth, safe and stress-free induction. A typical series of pre-induction communications may go something like, … ‘Don’t worry we won’t drop you’. As the patient is transferred from a trolley to the operating table. ‘The blood pressure cuff gets really tight and may hurt and try not to move while it’s pumping up’. ‘That noise over there is just the nurse checking the drill!’… Explaining what is happening in simple straightforward non-technical language, and at the same time communicating in a positive way, is invariably the more useful approach. For example, …‘Welcome to the operating room Mr P ’. ‘You can relax as we move you to this other bed—you are quite safe’. ‘We will place some monitoring leads on so we can keep you safe and comfortable. A pulse monitor gently placed on your finger, an ECG on your chest and a blood pressure cuff on your arm. As the blood pressure cuff tightens and we take its reading this often allows patients to relax knowing how closely we are looking after them’. …