We all know great leadership is an essential element for success in any organization. Being a great leader, however, takes intentional and effective communication. That’s because communication is at the heart of all relationships, and it’s only with strong relationships that a leader can build a team that’s willing to do what it takes to achieve collective goals.

Based on data from more than 300 industry companies, we know that employees rate communication as one of the top areas needing improvement in their workplaces. And while communication is a common challenge for business owners in the trades, it’s entirely possible to improve. Here are seven tips to help you improve communication as a leader.

1. Foster a positive work culture.

Promote a supportive and celebratory workplace environment and consciously make space to celebrate the wins. So often, our communication as leaders focuses on what isn’t working well or where someone’s falling short. If you only focus on the negatives, your staff won’t want to see you coming or to hear from you. You can turn this around by delivering positivity and getting excited about what’s going well in the business. Show appreciation by recognizing and rewarding achievements to boost morale and motivation. Employees love feeling recognized and valued for their efforts.

2. Be approachable.

Make yourself available for conversations; encourage open feedback and authentic conversations. It’s good to show vulnerability. It does not equal weakness – it shows strength and can create trust and a true connection with your staff. When your employees trust you, you strengthen your culture .

3. Be open to feedback.

To improve and grow as an effective communicator, listen and respond to constructive criticism. Everyone has blind spots and limitations. Doing this takes humility and the aforementioned vulnerability. Don’t just listen to feedback – actively seek it out and encourage people to share with you so that you can learn more about yourself and your company’s culture. It won’t always be easy to hear what others are sharing, but the fact that you are open to feedback will go a long way toward opening lines of communication with your staff. Model what you need from your employees.

4. Listen actively

Encourage open communication by paying attention to and acknowledging what your team members are saying. First and foremost, be present. When someone comes to you asking to talk, remove all distractions. Put your phone away, close your computer, and close the door if necessary. Giving someone your undivided attention shows them they matter and helps you be 100% focused on what they’re saying. Be an active listener by asking open-ended questions. Consider writing down what you’re hearingand refer back to it later. Also, ensure you’re hearing feedback correctly by repeating back what your employees have said to ensure you didn’t miss anything. Show genuine interest in their thoughts and opinions. And don’t forget to watch for the nonverbal communication coming at you from the person across from you; you can learn a lot from body language.

5. Provide clear expectations.

Remember, clear is kind. Clearly communicate goals, responsibilities, and feedback to help your team grow. People want to be part of a winning team and to win. They need to know what’s expected of them. Expectations are not only specific to KPIs and goals – they’re specific to behaviors. Make sure your team has a solid mission and vision statement to rally your team  around and get excited about as they come to work each day. Core value statements are a phenomenal way to communicate expectations of behavior. They are the foundation of your culture; through them, you can create the culture you need within your business by communicating.

6. Empower your team.

You’ve hired amazing people. It’s time to allow them to thrive by trusting them to do their best work without your intervention. If you have clear expectations and authentic conversations at your company, give your employees the freedom and resources to make decisions and take ownership of their work. If you allow employees to take the lead, you’ll be amazed at the growth you’ll see in your people and your business. True leaders help others see their own potential.

7. Lead by example.

Make sure your team knows how you define success for yourself. Share your leadership principles with them. The principles should define what’s important to you and what you expect from others. Knowing your principles will help your team know what to expect from you as a leader and to understand you. When you are a leader, people are always watching you, so it’s critical for you to embody integrity by acting in alignment with your own leadership principles and the company's core values.

Communication is intertwined through everything you do as a leader. If your employees are asking for better communication, take inventory of how you’re sharing information with them. Ensure that you align your entire leadership team with the messages going out  to ensure you’re sharing similar information. You can track your communication as a leader. Every day brings new opportunities to practice.

Lisa Kinney is a Nexstar Network Leadership & Culture Coach who has more than 15 years of experience supporting business leaders with all aspects of talent management, and she specializes in helping to create engaging workplace cultures.