Choosing Staff For Your ProBoard

[Avatar Aang]

I visit some sites, join and talk to users. One of my friends are Hellsanda, he's such a good friend. I just have to talk and if I like a user, Post my link (website) to them and make them staff.

[Garyn Fett]

I'm in a staff position on multiple proboards sites, and through that have seen how some people hand out modship and the like. On one, modship is handed out almost like a reward, and though I can understand some people getting it, others I do not.

On the other hand, we have people who think they can do it all by themselves, and end up killing their board. A good middle ground is to have a set of mods that you have seen in action before, know you can trust, ect. Give them certain duties, give others other duties, ect. The balance is usually crucial to the well-being of a forum, IMO.

[†Mason Fett†]

I agree. Garyn, what do you do if someone comes to the forums and wants to be a mod right away? I mean, I get friends who I trust from Myspace to come, but I don't really trust their forum abilities. And on top of that, I'm getting over-staffed.

[cisleader]

Nov 24, 2007 16:29:04 GMT -8 †Mason Fett† said:

I agree. Garyn, what do you do if someone comes to the forums and wants to be a mod right away? I mean, I get friends who I trust from Myspace to come, but I don't really trust their forum abilities. And on top of that, I'm getting over-staffed.

Gengar, wat to do is tell them that they have to wait, like everyone eles, or just tell them the truth, if they r your real friends they'll undertsnd.

[Høļļy]

Nov 24, 2007 8:23:56 GMT -8 Høļļy said:

In my forum, some of my admins aren't active, and one of them is really disrespectful to me. I have told them to come online more, and only one of them seems to be listening. Should I give them a warning or should I just dethrown them of their powers? I really need some staff though...

I had asked a question...

[HoudiniDerek]

Nov 27, 2007 13:58:35 GMT -8 Høļļy said:

Nov 24, 2007 8:23:56 GMT -8 Høļļy said:

In my forum, some of my admins aren't active, and one of them is really disrespectful to me. I have told them to come online more, and only one of them seems to be listening. Should I give them a warning or should I just dethrown them of their powers? I really need some staff though...

I had asked a question...

If they are disrespectful to you, find out why. If the others are not being helpful and are not meeting your staff standards, find out why. If they do not get back to you or do not seem to care, demote them. You have a responsibility to the members to make sure that the staff are active, polite, and helpful.

My next question to you: Do you REALLY need staff? Is your forum THAT active? If not, why not go solo for a while and then over time see what members earn the right to be staff.

[SwordGrunt]

On the forums I'm a Moderator, the Administrator usually gives me that position because he knows I can help on the site.


In my forum, I give Staff positions for those who I know and am sure will do a good job. Global Moderators are even more trusted, since they can do anything but manage paid services, Member Goups, General Settings and Headers/Footers.

[†Mason Fett†]

Nov 29, 2007 11:08:11 GMT -8 SwordGrunt said:

On the forums I'm a Moderator, the Administrator usually gives me that position because he knows I can help on the site.


In my forum, I give Staff positions for those who I know and am sure will do a good job. Global Moderators are even more trusted, since they can do anything but manage paid services, Member Goups, General Settings and Headers/Footers.

Lucky, personally I'd rather just be a g-mod or mod on most sites that i'm on, but it''s no biggy. Administrators have to deal with all the different positions and stuff. I just make all my friends who I trust mods.

[topdog1]

This is my first attempt at my own board, but I am coming into it from another board.
There where a few of us on one board where because the mods where not doing their job, things got out of hand.
So one guy started his own board so we could get away from the problems.
What he has done is only appoint friends and people he knows and trusts as mods.
Been going about 3 months now and not 1 problem.
Its sort of given me a good lesson in how to pick mods when I need to.

[topdog1]

Nov 27, 2007 13:58:35 GMT -8 Høļļy said:

Nov 24, 2007 8:23:56 GMT -8 Høļļy said:

In my forum, some of my admins aren't active, and one of them is really disrespectful to me. I have told them to come online more, and only one of them seems to be listening. Should I give them a warning or should I just dethrown them of their powers? I really need some staff though...

I had asked a question...

If they are not doing what they should be just get rid and replace

[rosebud]

I know some people are against staff applications, but they aren't bad if you know what questions to ask. If you're applying for an actual job, what do they do? They interview you to make sure you know the material. I've interviewed a friend of mine who I thought might have been good for a staff position because I knew her personally. She was nice and all, but too inexperienced. She would have agreed to be staff on my board, but then we both disagreed after seeing the result of the questions I've asked her.

It's simple. These are questions I've gathered from threads here in 'Discussion: Your ProBoard!'

What are your thoughts on favoritism?
What are some basic rules forums should generally have?
Say a member made a double post. What action would you take?
If a member swore, what action would you take?
What makes a forum successful?
Give me an example of what your general message would look and sound like if a member broke a rule.
What kind of duties does a staff member have?
Are you better as a staff member or member?
How can the staff gain members?
When would be the best time to ban a member?
What if a staff member offends you? How are you going to react? What actions will you take in that case?

Please, make your own, but that gives you an idea.

EDIT: Of course this should be done privately where you let the member know they will be interviewed, but they should not be aware of what questions you'll be asking him/her. I do this privately.

[HoudiniDerek]

I agree that it can be done that way and I think you have some great questions. Unfortunately, most jobs differ in the fact that people HAVE to make time for them. Some people start advertising staff applications and such the first hour the forum is open. If it is a process that has a starting date after a member has been around and such for so long, I think it works fine. Otherwise, the application process can get bogged down and people treat it too seriously or they flaunt what they do get because there was competition, which can lead to more problems. I get the idea and I understand why you use it, but to me, it is too wasteful of resources and a possibly harmonious community.

[SwordGrunt]

Jan 18, 2008 23:59:39 GMT -8 HoudiniDerek said:

I agree that it can be done that way and I think you have some great questions. Unfortunately, most jobs differ in the fact that people HAVE to make time for them. Some people start advertising staff applications and such the first hour the forum is open. If it is a process that has a starting date after a member has been around and such for so long, I think it works fine. Otherwise, the application process can get bogged down and people treat it too seriously or they flaunt what they do get because there was competition, which can lead to more problems. I get the idea and I understand why you use it, but to me, it is too wasteful of resources and a possibly harmonious community.

That's true. I've seen so many forums where people just hand out Staff positions not even caring. There's even a forum I'm a Moderator of that has 27 members, 14 of them Staff. Staff positions shouldn't be given for anyone who wants to have it. And many people don't know that, unfortunately. Basically, all who allow Staff applications won't refuse to power those who apply.

["Sir" MetalHead]

Keep your self admin until you really need help, like if the 2nd member, if he/she is still active and would like to be staff, then you should appoint them when your forum grows bigger.

[Enchant]

Jan 19, 2008 7:48:15 GMT -8 "Sir" MetalHead said:

Keep your self admin until you really need help, like if the 2nd member, if he/she is still active and would like to be staff, then you should appoint them when your forum grows bigger.

WHY? When you post make sure you back your comments up with explaination, reason or personal experience. Not only does it help with your point of view but is more productive in a discussion