There are many problems that can be solved through better communication. Teams that communicate well together tend to be more productive and find that fewer tasks slip through the cracks, responsibilities are more clearly defined and common goals are established.

Through clear and consistent communication, team members can give and receive meaningful feedback rather than allowing morale-killing resentment to fester. And ultimately, teams that communicate well together will do a better job of communicating with customers.

But what if your team’s communication acumen isn’t where you’d like it to be? What can you, as the team leader, do to facilitate clearer communication practices?

Have an open-door policy. Clear communication starts at the top. Make sure your team members know that you welcome their feedback, questions or concerns. Set a clear standard for being there to listen to your employees’ concerns, without judgment.

Don’t punish honest feedback. In some workplaces, employees don’t communicate because they are afraid they will be penalized for saying the wrong thing. Make sure you create a work environment where team members know they can point out problems or offer suggestions without being punished for it.

Facilitate collaboration. One of the best ways to help team members communicate with each other is to have them work on a project together. Try pairing up employees in different configurations and have small teams tackle projects together. Be intentional about helping employees who don’t often have a chance to work together partner up from time to time.

Develop a rhythm of daily or weekly huddles. Another important way to facilitate communication is to actually schedule it. If you don’t already have daily or weekly team huddles, now’s the time to start them. Get everyone together for a couple of minutes of announcements, goal setting, questions and comments.

Set healthy parameters. Healthy workplace communication has boundaries. For example, there’s really no reason why you should be emailing or texting employees past midnight, save for true emergencies. Make sure you set a good example of unplugging at appropriate times.

Solicit feedback. Don’t overlook the obvious. If you want your team members to speak up more frequently, it doesn’t hurt to actively invite them to do so. Let everyone on your team know you’re open to their thoughts and suggestions. Open the floor to anyone who wishes to voice a concern.

Lead by example. As the business owner or team leader, you set the tone for how people communicate. Your people are watching you and taking cues. Be careful to model excellent communication skills in the way you interact with your employees as well as your customers.

Make communication paramount. Good communication goes a long way toward improving team morale, productivity and cohesion. And implementing it doesn’t have to be hard or overly complex. Start by thinking through your own communication habits, and make sure you’re setting a good example for all the people who work for you.

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About the author: Amanda Clark is president and editor-in-chief of Grammar Chic Inc., a full-service professional writing company. She is a published ghostwriter and editor, and she's currently under contract with literary agencies in Malibu, California and Dublin. Since founding Grammar Chic in 2008, Clark, along with her team of skilled professional writers, has offered expertise to clients in the creative, business and academic fields. The company accepts a wide range of projects; often engages in content and social media marketing; and drafts resumes, press releases, web content, marketing materials and ghostwritten creative pieces. Contact Clark at www.grammarchic.net.