Retaining Talented Community Pros and What Makes a Great Boss? (3 Years of Community Signal)
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This week, Community Signal proudly celebrates three years of conversations with community professionals. We\\u2019re taking this opportunity to talk to Patrick about his experience running the show and giving him a chance to reflect on the state of online\\xa0community management and how he\\u2019s seen it develop over these past few years. We\\u2019re also grateful to be joined by past guest,\\xa0Scott Moore, for this conversation.
Combined, Patrick and Scott have over four decades of experience in community and a recurring topic in this conversation is how we can learn from industry veterans and those who came before us, as well as recognizing that the community problems of today likely have past occurrences that we can learn from. As Patrick mentions towards the end of this episode, hosting this show has been a way for him to stay up to date on the themes, tools, struggles, and triumphs that the community landscape is seeing and we hope that these conversations are useful for you, too.
I know that I can confidently speak for Karn, Patrick, and myself in saying that we\\u2019re all looking forward to continuing to ask the tough questions when it comes to community. It\\u2019s our duty to push the profession forward.
We\\u2019re breaking this conversation up into two episodes. In part one, Patrick and Scott talk about:
- Choosing metrics that matter
- The career trajectory for community professionals and how he approaches managing his team
- His go-to resources for staying current on all things community
Our Podcast is Made Possible By\\u2026
If you enjoy our show, please know that it\\u2019s only possible with the generous support of our sponsor:\\xa0Higher Logic.
Big Quotes
On learning from the past:\\xa0\\u201cThere\\u2019s a lot [that can] happen in communities that seems like a major crisis, that seems like the end of the world, that seems like it\\u2019s over. You just have to do the work, persevere, make it right, apologize, and do your best. \\u2026 Most things, you get through and you persevere through.\\u201d -@patrickokeefe
On communicating the value of community:\\xa0\\u201c[Community metrics are] really about understanding who you\\u2019re talking to, what they value, and then how you can tie the community to it.\\u201d -@patrickokeefe
On knowing our worth:\\xa0\\u201cWe [as community professionals] should recognize our value and in cases where we feel that we are not being utilized fully or we are not being fully appreciated, we do that work for as long as we can and we start to look for better opportunities elsewhere at organizations that will value and respect us.\\xa0It\\u2019s almost like being in a relationship and people think they can fix the other person. It\\u2019s not necessarily something that can always be accomplished.\\u201d -@patrickokeefe
On what makes a great boss: \\u201cGreat bosses make the careers of the people who report to them a priority in their professional work. Whether that be raises, whether that be promotions, whether that be helping them get the new job and not making them feel like they should be scared to ask you for help getting a job or ask you for a reference letter, or tell you that this amazing opportunity came up. I\\u2019m happy for people. That\\u2019s my legacy. That\\u2019s how I see my legacy as a community professional: The people that I helped advance.\\u201d -@patrickokeefe
About Scott Moore
Since 1995,\\xa0Scott Moore\\xa0has been helping organizations large and small build solid and successful connected communities and the teams that support those communities. He seeks opportunities to use his experience in online communities to help people help each other to make a positive change in their own lives and those around them. Scott has fostered and directed community at Digital Promise Global, Answers.com, Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, Communities.com, and Fujitsu. He has also consulted with non-profits to help with a variety of online community needs including Healthsparq, Diabetes Hands Foundation, and Edutopia.
Related Links
- Sponsor:\\xa0Higher Logic, the community platform for community managers
- Scott Moore on Twitter
- Scott Moore on LinkedIn
- Learning from Theme Park Design, Scott Moore on Community Signal
- Facebook Doesn\\u2019t Protect Black Children, But They Did Add \\u201cCommunity\\u201d to Their Mission Statement, So\\u2026, Scott Moore on Community Signal
- The Virtual Community\\xa0by Howard Rheingold
- Design for Community, by Derek Powazek
- Managing Online Forums, by Patrick O\\u2019Keefe
- Lessons From The WELL and Making a World Where the Sun Rises the Next Morning, Gail Ann Williams on Community Signal
- Everything in Moderation
- How The New York Times is Building Thoughtful Comment Sections in the Trump Era, Bassey Etim on Community Signal
- Patrick also mentions past Community Signal guests\\xa0Bill Johnston,\\xa0Rebecca Newton, and\\xa0Marjorie Anderson
- WeSupportNYC, a weekly community-themed newsletter
Transcript
Your Thoughts
If you have any thoughts on this episode that you\\u2019d like to share, please leave me a comment,\\xa0send me an email\\xa0or a\\xa0tweet. If you enjoy the show, we would be so grateful if you spread the word and supported\\xa0Community Signal on Patreon.
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