Leaders I talk with are always striving to be effective communicators — and for good reason! Clear communication and transparency from leaders to teams creates trust, security and engagement. Honesty and openness from team members to leaders (especially about challenges and mistakes) improves outcomes. But barriers to open communication can be hard to detect. 
Here’s a great Psychology Today article outlining many, including lack of psychological safety. And I love these 6 questions from Jean Marie DiGiovanna to support you in creating it.