Are you an experienced forum group moderator?

I would love for you to mentor me on how you approach this task!

I recently jumped into the role of moderator on two groups I belong to. Simply keeping up with all the discussion on the forums takes an amazing amount of time.

Having observed some talented moderators handle online tension with great finesse, I find I’m a little anxious about not coming off like your elementary school principal if I do have to jump into the middle of some acrimonious exchange.

Since the concept of the forum dates to ancient times, and since bulletin boards and discussion lists were some of the earliest forms of online communication when the Internet was just taking off, there is a wealth of information to draw on.

Effective moderation may not be possible until you have earned the respect of group participants through actively contributing to the conversation yourself. In taking up the moderation challenge, you have an opportunity to hone your leadership style and skills.

Martin Reed who publishes Community Spark, addresses the primary role of moderators as he sees it:

“When you take on forum moderators you need to make it clear exactly what you expect from them. Most moderators see themselves as forum police officers and will only edit/delete/lock content without creating any themselves. This is a mistake – make sure your moderators know that their primary role is to encourage interaction, to encourage member involvement, and to encourage a sense of community within your forum. “

Here are some resources on how to become an effective moderator:

The Real Purpose of Forum Moderators Revealed, How to Effectively Moderate Forums, and don’t miss this: Archived List of Articles on Forum Development, by Martin Reed, The Community Spark.

The Forum Leader’s Guide to Life â€â€? Parts 1 and 2, by Aaron Brazell

The Moderator’s Home Page, by Mauri Collins and Zane L. Berge