In my experience, organization is half the battle.  Have a schedule and stick to it, start and end rehearsals on time. One of the most helpful things I do for myself is to lay out my expectations at the first rehearsal.  I tell my cast that I'm excited to work with them (and I am) and this is what I expect from them...punctuality, respect for each other, hard work, etc.  Then I tell them what they should expect from me...punctuality, honest, organization, respect etc.  I'm a stickler for a few things and I make that clear.  I also tell them that my job is to put on the best damn show that I can and that means that my choices and decisions for the show reflect that.  I want them to be the best that they can be, because that means our show will be the best that it can be.  I find that being up front about my expectations has solved a lot of problems.  Ok.  a little wordy, but I really believe in this.  -d.

Notes are a way to give feedback to the entire cast at the same notes.  I have always seen notes with everybody present, and then if there are any "ultra personal" ones, ie "get your act together!" those are done in private.

Notes are sometimes tough.   Especially if people try and add their two cents to your notes, but get them out and move on.  The notes are usually not "scolding" but rather "remember this" or "try this."   In my experience, the heaviest notes are done during tech week, and as somebody else mentioned, notes during the run of the show are usually "don't change that part again."

Ive also had notes emailed to me, but I like the group atmosphere better, even though it may sound like you are saying people did things wrong. 

Some directors give all of their notes "as they happen" and some give notes after.  I tend to stop the scene and change things the first few weeks, but later as we run the entire show, I'll let some things slide and give notes later.

Personal choice I guess.

Notes are the notes you take during a rehersal.  You refer to them as you are talking to the cast.  They aren't notes you write out for the cast they are like the notes you would take during a lecture.  Physically handing out the notes you have taken would be bad juju.  At least it is in my case  because I can barely read my note taking handwriting, the cast certainly won't be able to make it out hehe.

Thanks, now I feel better. That is what I do. That wording, "giving notes" had me thinking I should be doing something different. I'm ok now.
Barb

Originally posted by benhamtroll 3.  Be aware of your vision, and follow through on it.  Allow input from the actors, but after a certain point let them know that YOU are the director, and you have the final say. 4.  Don't be afraid of pulling rank.  Sometimes you simply have to step up and discipline someone.

This something I came a guzza on, in the fist show I did at our new theatre group.
Which I know & still feel it haunts & follows me.
I blame the fact of being on my todd to get the grants & doing everthing else.
Because I was recovering from the hiccups of strokes & escaping from intensive care,. I stupidly kept requesting & wishing for help!
I know to be careful for what you wish for, but I bumbled on believing there was nothing wrong with me!
i directed Man of La Mancha & A Chorus Line bacxk to back, after having a muliple bypass. I still had 12 years or so left on the warranty  of the old dicky tickah anyway!
So part the way thru the rehearsal process, I welcomed the assistance, That was the second major blue I madfe, with this production.
After a short period, because my fire power was deminished, everytime I went to say anything, I was left with my gob open & became frustrated, because this other bod would give rapid fire over the top of me. eventualy each time I was wound up enough to spit the dummy, it just fell in front of me on the floor.
I;m normally vert placid & almost never raised  vioce in anger anyway, so I shrunk away  & gave up.[whimp!] Because on the  times I stuck it to  argue the piont. I ended up getting my  dacks in a twist & getting hit by the door on storming out! I soon realised I didn't drive anymore & it was a surt I'd get lost on the wat home. 
Which was not fair on the cast with to many conflicts with head bottle washers sticking thier 'aw in.
So I evaporated to being just part of the furniture.
I agree it can happen so quickly & quite softly, if alow it too, without one realising.
[off topic again - I knoe!] They atempted to get me to materalise & even bribe me with a Life Membership, which was nice & I acepted. {I know I'm cheap!}
However untill lately I thought it was another way of way of this bod saying thanks - Now buggah off! Which is what normally happens.
I'm glad to say after a very sudden change to power that prevailed, which was Monty to happen anyway!
I came to understand I was a complete yoyo & the atmosphere has done a 180.
Things are getting back to what we should be about, so much so I'm all fired up again!