Hi,

Sometimes I get a feeling that my staff does not have the same visions of the site as I'm the webmaster have. What should I do because when they don't its sometimes very frustrating and hard to continue when you just get negative feedback on things you do..

Thanks

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What is 'your vision'? Have you told them your vision or what you want from them? Have you laid down guidelines for how staff should behave? Have you told them what you want them to do, how to handle situations, what to post, how often? Anything?

When I started my forum I made a post in which I tried to outline my 'vision' for both staff and members. It went like this:

Have you done anything similar?

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no, I havent posted anything like that, but there have been discussions in the Staff forum about different issues where I have made clear what I want, but still some of the staff are almost working against it. I also have small portions of clicks in my staff and I dont think thats good against the rest of the community.

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Then I'd suggest you do it. Take the time to sit down and write a 'community vision'. It must be what you want and how you want it. In addition write some guidelines on how your staff should behave. Are you a large forum or small? If you can lose a few staff members without it affecting the running of the forum then get rid of those causing you problems or at least give them warnings. I have a similar problem with Mods reprimanding members and saying things like, 'you don't do that kind of thing in MY forum'. I remind the Mod in question that it is not their forum it is the communities forum and just who do they think they are claiming ownership of a forum like that? It seems to work. Get tough. Sometimes you have to. If you have staff who are doing it right, tell them. Reward them, praise them. Even a 'good job!' rep comment from a community leader can be good enough for something like that.

1) Tell them what your vision is
2) Tell them how to act
3) Warn them if they do it wrong
4) Congratulate them if they do it right

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Excellent post, AzH.

Chris

I'm glad someone brought up this topic. This issue comes up a lot on the forum I administrate. I've been with my forum from the start. And I've definetly made mistakes that I made sure not to repeat ever again. Often when I see the same scenario coming up again I make sure to stop it in it's tracks. However staff members have a different "vision" and keep pushing the matter.

I like the staff team to be fair to each other and I definetly consider and take into question everyone's opinion. But you need to make it clear that as much as you value their opinion, and you will take things into consideration and be open minded, you are the boss and the final decision is yours.

I would recommend making this clear in the early development of your forum. I had let it go to a point where people were question me and my partner's decisions and accusing us of false things. I immediately reminded everyone that me and my partner had the final say in things.

Every staff member of course wants the site to be their own way. But that can't always happen.

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