What is community management? (A work in progress)

by Scott on December 31, 2008 · View Comments

Post image for What is community management? (A work in progress)

Just wanted to say a quick thank you to all those people in 2008 who challenged me to discuss what it is a community manager does. It’s very early days for me in my current role as community manager with Sports Hydrant, but every chance I get to discuss the role with other people gives me another chance to reflect on this emerging (at least online) career path.

Many thanks especially to Tom Voirol for challenging me to stand up and discuss what community management is at BarCamp4 Sydney. So much for trying to hide from the spotlight at my first BarCamp :-) Don’t know if I really agree with everything I said now, but I guess that’s the beauty of learning.


Community from Ben Grubb on Vimeo

Also, thanks to Rai for helping me to get closer to a semi-coherent definition of community management and for providing me with an excellent example of what a community manager is just by being herself [Rai - let's get that Australian Community Manager's Facebook group pumping in the New Year, yeah?]. Also, thanks due to Jeff Waugh for challenging me and introducing me to the idea of values and vision.

Lastly, cheers to the rest of the crowd, who were kind enough to go on with my rather ramshackle ad hoc presentation and were forthcoming with really helpful feedback and criticism. I learned a huge amount and I’m looking forward to the next BarCamp event.

[Beautiful header image courtesy of Creative Commons and Flickr user carf. Check out more of the amazing community projects undertaken by the WINGS of Hummingbird youth capacity building project]

Tagged as: BarCampSydney4, Ben Grubb, CM definition, unconference, video presentation

  • Hey Rai - great being so connected - it's like having you in the same room ;-)

    Don't be shy now Rai, have a watch of the video - you never know, you might like it!
  • Rai
    Sorry Scott... we're so connected, I lost track of what we discussed where :P

    Okay, so we decided this - we'd connect up with the existing group on FB, and use the one I created as a localised one - easier to organise events etc.

    Oh, and I had no idea our chat was being recorded either... I was mortified when I found out! (Can't even remember what I said, and I can't bring myself to watch it.)
  • Truth be told Matt, I didn't even know there was a camera recording, although I stand by the sentiments regardless of word choice ;-)

    Community management is a very exciting field right now, and there's a great deal of very talented people out there already practicing, as well as a good deal more writing about relevant CM strategy.

    I really appreciate your challenge to me - to detail the nuts and bolts of the CM role as I experience it - and I'm looking forward to doing just that.

    2009 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the Sports Hydrant and there will be lots to discuss. I'll share my journey as a working community manager here with you and anyone else who cares to tune in.

    I've joined @mattrhodes' LinkedIn group (just waiting approval) and am very excited about the idea of a collective resource around CM. What sort of format were you thinking? I have quite a few ideas around this, so what about I take you up on that offer of a coffee? DM me on Twitter @scott_drummond and we'll arrange a time.

    Oh, and of course, your Mum is right :-)
  • Hey Rai. Great stuff getting the Facebook group started - the only problem is that I actually had it in mind for us to join an already existing group - Australian Community Managers.

    Let's consolidate the two groups together. As the Aussie Community Managers Commune came second and is less established, I vote to bring their members over to the Australian Community Managers group.

    Then we should work hard to get great stuff happening in one consolidated place, rather than divide our efforts between two essentially similar spaces.

    But I'd love to hear what you think Rai. Comment back here when you get the chance.
  • Matt
    I liked the off the cuff, open nature of the clip, especially when you forget the camera & swear to make a very valid point... I understood it completely ;-)

    I think it's exciting for you & Rai to be in a position where you can help write the book on OCM, it's not very often you get an almost clean slate to work from. I hope you get a lot of leeway to experiment!

    To add further value to resources like the clip above, what I would like to see from you this year are some articles about your OCM experiences on a day to day basis, the good and the bad.

    Most of what I've seen so far is from a more theoretical/strategic POV, I want to be able to imagine what it would be like to be an OCM, warts and all. I'll be happy to provide you with an caffeine IV drip for your trouble!

    Not sure, if you aware of it, but there is a new Linkedin group for Online community managers - http://zi.ma/4fd75b started by @mattrhodes that you might like to join (possibly you would like to add a group on xing.com too).

    If you guys are interested in collaborating on an online resource for running online communities - I'd be happy to pitch in too.

    Peace

    @mister_black

    PS Scott, my mum says you need a haircut!
  • Rai
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