Recently I've been having a problem with staff that fight too much but one of the big problems is that some of the staff like talking behind other people's back. Not only that but they begin to rally people against each other so we have four different sections of the staff fighting each other. What I am surprised about is that a big part of it is stimulated by the co-owner and one of the administrators that are on the same level as me, and have been also been talking behind my back. I do know for a fact that this has been happening for quite some time and as I have been informed by members with proof. I have confronted them both twice about it and they either avoid the question or give an answer like "I havn't said something I've already said to you." Basically admitting to it, but not exactly.

What worries me is that a staff forum isn't middle or high school were we can gossip behind people's backs. If were a staff team we should also be united, not jumping around trying to gather an army of people to fight each other.

I was wondering, does anyone have this problem on their forum?

What would you say to the staff? What would you give as a general message to all the staff who do this?

Would you make it a STAFF rule not to talk behind people's back if it's dividing the staff?

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Easy answer. They'd get cut. A staff member's attitudes reflect on the forum. If you go somewhere and see the staff acting like that, would you want to join? I know I wouldn't.

Assess the situation as best you can, and warn/remove the instigator(s) accordingly. Looks like everyone is involved, meaning there's no one person who deserves punishment more then the other. You have to do what you need to for the forum to survive, even if that means purging and or banning your entire staff.

Remind them of the position they hold, and the certain responsibilities it entitles. They represent the forum as well as themselves, and a staff that attacks their own is one of the biggest put offs for a community.

It should not have to be a staff rule, or a rule anywhere, it's something that just goes without saying. Don't take this the wrong way, but I think you may have selected the wrong type of people for moderators if they think this sort of thing is ok.

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I don't mean to sound rude, but it sounds like you have an extremely immature staff. Talking behind other member's backs should not have to be a rule; it's common sense, and it should be even more obvious when you hold such a position on a forum. People really do need to grow up.

If I were you, I would give them another chance. If they continue to talk crap behind each other's backs, demote them. Remember: always put the community first.

Chris

I wouldn't allow it..

Your staff are Direct Representation of You and Your site !

Maybe your sites are more relaxed, but if you don't have a guideline explaining how the staff should act already, I would suggest making one now.

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I got to agree with loco.m... think of it this way!

if you owned a corporation and had a paid staff member giving your corp a bad name...ya gonna keep'em?

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Shawn (WildBB Developer)

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This is not OK .. and you need to step in before you have the entire forum go down in flames.

In my forums there's no place for politics. We all need to rally against the spammers and occasional bad members. NOT discuss each others, not get into wars. We have some job to do.

Try to see which of them is the one to 'feed the fire' and demote/ban. And do this till all are calm. Let them all know that it's not the time and place to play politics and that they are killing the forums with this immature behaviour.

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I would create a "Moderator's Corner" that's viewable/accessible only to the Mods and Admins of your forum, so that it gives them a place to vent, bring up issues against each others and also clear up possible misunderstandings.

It's been my experience that people will only talk behind your back when you're not offering them the chance to do it to your face.

Once you do that, make sure to let them know the Mod's Corner will be the only place on your forum where trash talking is tolerated. If you get proof that this rule is not being respected, start demoting/banning staff. Your forum's reputation depends on it.

Hmm drama makes the world go round and round.
Never a dull moment in the iDEN community.
There are always mini feuds going on e-feuds lol.

Look at it this way if you are creating an interest then you are doing your job.
No publicity is bad publicity. Sad but true.

Funny thing is that my partner and I create our own drama as well.
Seems we are very entertaining and interesting as our personas often clash.

On my site I have created a chat room where when needed we call a staff meeting and everyone gets a chance to vent.

If the issue cannot be resolved my partner and myself get together and discuss it. Then my partner and I have the final say and decide what is to be done.

You cannot please everyone so the final choices should be yours. Whatever the outcome, be true to yourself, stick to it and this too shall pass as it should. Sometimes it is difficult getting rid of staff, members, friends but in the long run it all works out.


Inescia.

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Your staff should be like a family, there will be times where they will fight, but as long as it is controllable, then there are no worries. Your staff member should try to be impartial even while they argue out. (they should be able to understand the other staff member's point of view) If these arguments goes on forever, then you have a problem with the chemistry of your team, and actions must be taken. You must clearly warn them, each time with tougher and stiffer means. It must be very clear what you are trying to say and you must show that you are in control when ever there is a major mess. Being a good admin is to be able to handle the situation when all hope is lost. If they don't stop fighting then you will have to resort to the last and most appropriate measure and that is to fire your staff. It is not pretty and can be a mess, but in the long run you should feel good about it, and loss many members because of it.

In my forum, the fights we have are for fun and they are highly entertaining. I am not sure about yours, but at the end of each fighting, there is a little love goes around and we just laugh it off.