The right directorial approach depends on the situation.
I love the Socratic method in music rehearsal: asking questions, probing possibilities, discovering the right solution for this ensemble. I love it because it’s a powerful tool for learning, growth, and empowerment of my students.
But it’s not the most efficient. There’s a lot of time taken up discussing, questioning, and exploring the music.
Every year when I get to our Rockford Choirs Cabaret rehearsal, I have to remind myself that that approach, while perfect for an educational ensemble, is the utter wrong approach for pros in a tight rehearsal. In this situation, the most important trait for a music director to have is decisiveness.
I imagine that the hardest transition for me from educator to director of professionals would be defaulting to that type of decisiveness. The mindset shift is a constant challenge.