The methods, devices, and systems discussed herein describe four different mechanisms (e.g., solutions) to assist a leader of a group of wireless communication devices in deciding when to switch between groupcast and unicast transmissions. In the first solution, the group leader may decide to initiate groupcast or unicast without considering the design of the Access Stratum (AS) layer link management. In the second solution, the group leader can determine whether to initiate unicast transmission based, at least partially, on feedback messages received from one or more other members of the group. In the third solution, the group leader has the option to simultaneously transmit groupcast and unicast transmissions towards the same user equipment devices (UEs). In the fourth solution, the group leader indicates to the groupcast-receiving UEs that the transmission is about to be switched from groupcast to unicast.