Communication that flows from one level of a group to a lower level is downward communication. Group leaders and managers use it to assign goals, provide job instructions, explain policies and procedures, point out problems that need attention, and offer feedback. In downward communication, managers must explain the reasons why a decision was made. Explanations increase employee commitment and the support of decisions.

Managers might think that sending a message once is enough to get through, but research suggests managerial communications must be repeated several times and through a variety of different media to be truly effective. Another problem in downward communication is its one-way nature; generally, managers inform employees but rarely solicit their advice or opinions. The best communicators explain the reasons behind their downward communications but also solicit communication from the employees they supervise.