Book excerpt: Communication remains a significant topic for job acquisition, development, and advancement. As such, there are no shortage of classes, seminars and books written on the subject. However, there are few designed for the corporate consultant that are not aligned with some proprietary system, traditional academic classrooms, or author’s speculation. These tend to be either inaccessible, questionable in their content, or specifically aligned with the producers’ interests. So where can the Communication trainers and consultants go to focus on fundamental touchstone research and practices? The Handbook of Communication Training is a powerful template, and first of its kind, for communication practitioners and academicians who wish to strengthen their professional capabilities. It also acts as a guide and standard for consumers and clients of these services. The chapters within are an outgrowth of the National Communication Association’s Training & Development Division’s desire to provide guidance, structure, and support for members and non-members alike. It is specifically targeted at those pursuing best practices regarding communication consulting, coaching, teaching and training. The 7 Best Practices presented in this book represent capabilities that are foundational to the effective transfer of communication promotion and skill enhancement. As such, these practices, and supporting chapters, should appeal to novice and experts alike.