thomasknoll.info - Latest Comments in I hate Community Management

Re: I hate Community Management

Red — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:23:32 -0000

"Manager" is a tough word - it's in my job title too, as many who've already commented on this topic.

I like gardening/farming metaphors since I grew up on a mini-farm. Some I can think of off the top of my head:
- Weeding out the really bad comments (foul language, racist/sexist, vulgar, spam, etc.)
- Throwing out the bad apples before they spoil the rest :)
- Planting quality content for conversations to grow on
- Leaving room for the animals to exercise so they don't go stir crazy (I equate horses needing room to roam in a pasture to smart people needing a place to explore their creative/innovative sides with some freedom.)
- Let the barking dog off the chain and it'll shut up (Rough wording there, but sometimes if you let go a little bit, the "tough" ones get a little easier to manage.)

Re: I hate Community Management

Bob Stanke — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:15:12 -0000

Great post. Now making me think about how my title should change. I like the term "Community Architect"...

Re: I hate Community Management

Justin Pruszynski Bacon — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:50:33 -0000

oops sorry - double post.

Re: I hate Community Management

Justin Pruszynski Bacon — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:12:18 -0000

something that is important to gardens is also the stuff below ground. That is, the soil has to be healthy. There needs to be nutrients. And Microbes, worms, coexistence...and then there's the micro-ecosystem of bugs, and birds, etc that interact, eat etc. Diversity in a garden is good - lots of different species. Not the mono-crops of agribusiness. Organic growth. Not genetically modified...okay, some of this is my opinion as well;) But I think it has ties to thinking about community engagement, activation, cultivation...conscious stewardship and design of community - there's the permaculture movement that talks about this very eloquently and thoroguhly

Re: I hate Community Management

thomasknoll — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:35:00 -0000

Thank you Dwight! (hey, nice last name) =P

Re: I hate Community Management

thomasknoll — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:35:00 -0000

Ooooh! I like the neighborhood metaphor as well. I wonder how far we
could extend that one?

Re: I hate Community Management

nommo — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:36:29 -0000

Yep - I agree 'pest control' is definitely a community cultivation chore, as is cultivation of the ground before planting :)

There are also different styles of cultivation - where the nature of community is either allowed to grow 'organically' or is forced by the use of 'intensive' techniques of fertilising etc... there is a fine line between intensive farming and feedlots ;-)

Re: I hate Community Management

thomasknoll — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:57:46 -0000

It sounds like good hospitality?

Re: I hate Community Management

thomasknoll — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:52:51 -0000

hA! I love it! I have definitely been a "moron with a stick" at times.

Re: I hate Community Management

thomasknoll — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:24:19 -0000

Scott, thank you for digging in so deep!

Yes, and your comments (In Real Life) earlier today also have me thinking about mapping improv skills against community cultivation/facilitation

Re: I hate Community Management

thomasknoll — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:22:14 -0000

Are you calling your community a bunch of clowns? =P

Re: I hate Community Management

thomasknoll — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:21:25 -0000

Which also begs the question, how much and what kind of fertilizer is healthy vs. unhealthy. =)

Re: I hate Community Management

thomasknoll — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:20:42 -0000

Thank you!

Yeah, it would definitely be interesting to look more into how much naming a thing affects the actions of that thing. i.e. Do I act differently when I call myself, "like a farmer" than "like a teacher" than "like a principal" etc.?

Re: I hate Community Management

thomasknoll — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:18:52 -0000

Ooooh, yeah. I like organic, and "nurturing".

Re: I hate Community Management

The Creative Type — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:17:12 -0000

"Manager" has so many negatives associated with it -- micro managing, seagull managing, over managing, etc. that it is, indeed a terrible term to use in terms of building and maintaining a community. I like "nurturer", but admittedly that may sound too hippy-dippy for some corporate types, and "cultivator". "Faciliator" still sounds too corporate and structured to me.

In terms of analogies, whenever anyone asks what I do and I reply "Community Management", the inevitable follow-up question from non-Web people is always: "Oh ... er, what's that?" I've always used this analogy (which has been touched on already). If you think of the Internet as a city with many streets, and an organization's web site as a house on a street whose doors are permanently open, my job is a little bit like being the hostess of that open house -- you help make introductions and stimulate conversations, you make sure your constant flow of guests are enjoying themselves and you also ensure they don't get out of control and trash the place.

Re: I hate Community Management

Benoît Faverial — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:29:41 -0000

Totally agree ! As well as in french, the "managing" point very related to "lead" or "direct" things.

I like the metaphor of the conductor of an orchestra, being the one who coordinate conversations around a brand or a product. This metaphor have another side I like : the conductor alone, without his orchestra is nothing but a moron with a stick ! We are nothing without our community, and I think it's important to remember this everytime

Re: I hate Community Management

Name — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:59:52 -0000

fertilization

Re: I hate Community Management

Scott Moore — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:58:01 -0000

To your gardening metaphor, I would add:
- unable to control weather, sun, extremes -- you have to work with them
- Dealing with birds, bugs and gophers (not malicious -- just their nature to eat your garden).

As for metaphors, I sometimes call a distinction between "authoritarian" (top down) and "authoritative" (bottom up). It's fine to be an authoritative voice/influence in a community, but not authoritarian.

This leads to the other metaphor I used in the past: Aikido and the idea of not being able to directly stop or block the actions or intent of others, but to step forward into their movement, match it and then support it, deflect it, or guide it elsewhere.

From this comes the other metaphor of standing on a shifting rug. If you stand still or try to dig in, the rug will pull out from under you and you wind up on your ass. However, if you learn to move your feet, you will be dancing along with the shifting of the rug.

Oh and then there is the party metaphor with creating a space, offering food and drink, connecting guests so they are enjoying each other and not being the center of attention.

For myself, I prefer to use "foster" and "facilitator" as they both imply guidance, influence, and autonomy of members.

Re: I hate Community Management

Derek — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:17:29 -0000

Sorry, not a garden metaphor: Circus Ringmaster.
You can take the garden ideas too far. :)

Re: I hate Community Management

Sue — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:21:10 -0000

Don't forget "Fertilizing often" ;)

Re: I hate Community Management

Dan Martell — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:14:43 -0000

I love the focus on the wording. The words we use make a HUGE impact on the actions and strategies we take.

Engagement is also a great work. How can I engage in a meaningful / relevant way. I personally LOVE people. I'm curious - however I spend most of my time looking for commonality that were BOTH passionate about.

That is quality engagement.

my2cents.

P.S. Love the blog format!!!

Re: I hate Community Management

thomasknoll — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:43:30 -0000

Thank you Dwight! (hey, nice last name) =P

Re: I hate Community Management

thomasknoll — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:43:08 -0000

Ooooh! I like the neighborhood metaphor as well. I wonder how far we
could extend that one?

Re: I hate Community Management

JennyB — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:32:58 -0000

I definitely use this analogy all the time too! They are right on and there really is no better way to describe them. I always tell my team our community is like a garden. We have to get the dirt ready, plant the seeds and give the garden a lot of nurturing for it to grow. They think my favorite word is "organic"..

Re: I hate Community Management

Delia — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:44:31 -0000

Yes, 'manage' is a bit bossy and condescending.
I think the neighborhood analogy (in addition to the garden) is useful:
Checking in with the neighbors.
Keeping an eye on the neighborhood-- from a caring perspective, not the nosy neighbor ;)
Cultivating
New growth