The perspective of anaesthesiologists regarding their professional image in the eyes of colleagues and the public was assessed. A self-reporting questionnaire (Instrument for Stress-related Job Analysis) was completed by 125 anaesthesiologists. Respondents' self-image and presumed image in the eyes of colleagues do not give a bright picture of the anaesthesiologist's role. The anticipated image showed significantly more anaesthesiologists who presumed low professional recognition by their colleagues from other specialties (P = 0.002) and the lay public (P = 0.015) than those who assumed high marks. Presumed colleague opinion correlated significantly with characteristics of job satisfaction including the possibility to co-determine sequence of operations (P = 0.006), recognition of suggestions and ideas (P = 0.007) and fellow support (P = 0.001). Regarding working conditions the possibility to actively control operational procedures also significantly correlated with colleague opinion (P = 0.003). The authors conclude that the possibility to actively influence quality and pace of work on a par with surgical colleagues could help boost self-esteem and self-confidence in anaesthesiologists. Furthermore, positive image promotion in cooperating medical professions and the public could help focus more attention on the important contribution of anaesthesiology to modern medicine.