Comments on: Ensure your moderators work as a team http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/ Community Building Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:04:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-14180 Martin Reed - Blog Author Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:29:22 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-14180 <strong>Alvina</strong> - Sometimes you need to actively encourage constructive criticism. If you find your moderators are hesitant to provide this, try changing the way you ask for feedback. Instead of saying 'How is this?', try saying something like 'I was thinking of this, but am not too sure it is right. How can we get this right? What do you think?' This way you are showing your moderators that you really need their help and feedback, and they will be far more likely to offer assistance. Alvina – Sometimes you need to actively encourage constructive criticism. If you find your moderators are hesitant to provide this, try changing the way you ask for feedback. Instead of saying ‘How is this?’, try saying something like ‘I was thinking of this, but am not too sure it is right. How can we get this right? What do you think?’

This way you are showing your moderators that you really need their help and feedback, and they will be far more likely to offer assistance.

]]> By: Alvina http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-14170 Alvina Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:34:25 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-14170 I try to involve my moderators in decision making however sometimes I have the feeling that it doesn't work for whatever reason. They will tell me that they support my decisions to the fullest, and while I appreciate support, I generally think we should act like a collective and come to a decision together. The most effective way to do so is by posting polls. Otherwise I get the feeling that they always expect me to make decisions. I try to involve my moderators in decision making however sometimes I have the feeling that it doesn’t work for whatever reason. They will tell me that they support my decisions to the fullest, and while I appreciate support, I generally think we should act like a collective and come to a decision together. The most effective way to do so is by posting polls. Otherwise I get the feeling that they always expect me to make decisions.

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-12963 Martin Reed - Blog Author Sun, 25 Nov 2007 13:24:55 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-12963 <strong>Escape Artist</strong> - I just re-read my post but cannot see where I differentiate moderators and admins. In my eyes, they both have the same amount of responsibility. In any case, all staff members should be working as a team - regardless of any differences in authority between them. Escape Artist – I just re-read my post but cannot see where I differentiate moderators and admins. In my eyes, they both have the same amount of responsibility. In any case, all staff members should be working as a team – regardless of any differences in authority between them.

]]> By: Escape Artist http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-12953 Escape Artist Sat, 24 Nov 2007 17:17:07 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-12953 You say the staff should work as a team, but also that the admins should be superior to the moderators. This does not create good team harmony. You say the staff should work as a team, but also that the admins should be superior to the moderators. This does not create good team harmony.

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-9327 Martin Reed - Blog Author Sat, 15 Sep 2007 16:13:16 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-9327 <strong>Eric Martindale</strong> - Holding meetings can be a great way of strengthening team spirit amongst your moderators - just so long as everyone turns up! Eric Martindale – Holding meetings can be a great way of strengthening team spirit amongst your moderators – just so long as everyone turns up!

]]> By: Eric Martindale http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-9217 Eric Martindale Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:54:26 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-9217 Wow, thanks for the post. This is something I've struggled with for a while. I've recently started holding regular meetings where each team on our staff gives updates. It helps everyone understand that they all play an equally important part of an increasingly complex machine. Wow, thanks for the post. This is something I’ve struggled with for a while. I’ve recently started holding regular meetings where each team on our staff gives updates. It helps everyone understand that they all play an equally important part of an increasingly complex machine.

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-6290 Martin Reed - Blog Author Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:46:25 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-6290 <strong>Smiley</strong> - A sense of humour is great; just make sure they can also be serious at times, too! Smiley – A sense of humour is great; just make sure they can also be serious at times, too!

]]> By: Smiley http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-5950 Smiley Sat, 11 Aug 2007 10:42:16 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-5950 Yes. That's why I tend to go for the ones who make me laugh. Plus that has added benefit, if they're entertaining and funny - they're more likely to keep new users amused in the chat room, hopefully enough to keep them in there long enough for another person to come along! Yes. That’s why I tend to go for the ones who make me laugh. Plus that has added benefit, if they’re entertaining and funny – they’re more likely to keep new users amused in the chat room, hopefully enough to keep them in there long enough for another person to come along!

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-5946 Martin Reed - Blog Author Sat, 11 Aug 2007 09:27:40 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-5946 <strong>Smiley</strong> - I think in a way it all boils down to selecting the right personalities to work for you as moderators; if someone is on the same wavelength as you and has a similar sense of humour, you are off to a good start. Smiley – I think in a way it all boils down to selecting the right personalities to work for you as moderators; if someone is on the same wavelength as you and has a similar sense of humour, you are off to a good start.

]]> By: Smiley http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-5933 Smiley Fri, 10 Aug 2007 23:23:10 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/ensure-your-moderators-work-as-a-team/#comment-5933 I agree, This is why I don't take applications. Not just for moderators for forums, but staff for any part of the site. Chat or boards (I like to keep them separate) I like to monitor people for a while and people who I think will get along well with each other, I "hire" them in pairs, a sort of buddy system. This works in the rooms more than the forums obviously. But in the future once the rooms are actually full of users, the staff will work their shifts in their assigned pairs and will stay with the same partners. I'm knackered so not sure if I've explained that clear enough, I think you'll understand what I mean, though. As for the forums, I tend to go more for the people with a sense of humour. The people who make me laugh, especially if their SOH is compatible with others I choose. People with a good sense of banter just tend to get on with people better. Saying that; I don't exactly discriminate against loners. Some people have just never been given the chance, so I also do look for the 'underdog', the person who could take me by surprise if given a chance and given a good nudge in the right direction. That's why I think my buddy system for room staff is a good idea. They have no choice -but- to work with someone then, it'll gain them the needed experience. I agree,

This is why I don’t take applications. Not just for moderators for forums, but staff for any part of the site. Chat or boards (I like to keep them separate)

I like to monitor people for a while and people who I think will get along well with each other, I “hire” them in pairs, a sort of buddy system.

This works in the rooms more than the forums obviously. But in the future once the rooms are actually full of users, the staff will work their shifts in their assigned pairs and will stay with the same partners. I’m knackered so not sure if I’ve explained that clear enough, I think you’ll understand what I mean, though.

As for the forums, I tend to go more for the people with a sense of humour. The people who make me laugh, especially if their SOH is compatible with others I choose.

People with a good sense of banter just tend to get on with people better.

Saying that; I don’t exactly discriminate against loners. Some people have just never been given the chance, so I also do look for the ‘underdog’, the person who could take me by surprise if given a chance and given a good nudge in the right direction. That’s why I think my buddy system for room staff is a good idea. They have no choice -but- to work with someone then, it’ll gain them the needed experience.

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