Community Moderator’s Principles

These are some principles I used to guide new moderators on a project I was leading. The feedback was good, so they may be useful to you if you are coaching inexperienced moderators in a community moderation role for business.

• Everyone wants to be a worthwhile member of a worthwhile organization.

• No new posting goes unanswered.

• Be a pointer. You don’t need to know all the answers.

• Make it safe—to ask, to be wrong, to learn.

• No topic is taboo, but how it’s handled may be.

• Lead by example.

• Draw everyone in. Keep the conversation going.

• Read the postings often.

• Post new information regularly.