again, before i could come up with a reading list recommendation, let me first share my own experience

in corporate world, your need following communication skill set components sharped and seasoned, to well prepare yourself for professional advancements

1. ability to sum up the discussions in meetings with
what was discussed
what was agreed upon and/or not agreed upon
what were the action items allocated and the action owners
what was the road map for the above action items
if you can do that well, then you can see if you can hold meetings and conduct meetings along that line. if you ever become a project manager (which is not really a mamanger with subordinates) then you will need this skill daily

2. ability to communicate effectively in short simple but clear e-mails on what do you need the other side to do and how and when do you expect to be done, or in response if you understood the request from the other how and when would be doing that or why would not be able to do that as expected…in all professional courtesy and manner

3. in group discussions, knowing the political subtle culture, talk at the right time in right approach to get message conveyed clearly and effectively. make your point but don’t put yourself on the spot

4. presentation skills: if you have the 5 minutes you asked for from your boss or your clients, and that 5 minutes is granted. now how do you best use the 5 minutes to convey effectively on what you propose to do and hope to get supports from them to give you a chance to give it a try?

5. when some of internal/exeternal customers are not in total agreement with you, and you know you are right, how can you document all conversation professionally for the record, while still trying to get them to work with you without damaging the work relationship?

in general, don’t walk back to your boss to tell him/her you have a prob so you could not perform the job. you only go to your boss tell him/her there was a prob and you are working on it with your solutions which may work out.

why? simple. you are hired to solve prob. if you hand all prob to your boss, what does that say about your ability to solve prob.

in the meantime, do not try to take all prob at your own hands either. if you need help, tell others where you need help (not to give the whole prob to tohers) to solve the prob and explain to them what is the prob and what is your idea of solution, get their input/feedback and then their supports….

i am not sure there are books talkign about this, but i am telling you this is very important skill set you need day in and day out