What Makes A Good Admin?

[Trublu]

What do you guys think makes a good administrator, versus a good staff member or a good member? What kind of qualities should an admin have (or not have), and what kinds of things should they do (or not do) as admin of a forum?

[joelatics]

Summed up, the admin should be friendly, and not seem to scary/big boss kinda thing, or members won't approach him/her.
However, he/she needs to be really tough on rule breakers, to show they arent to be messed with...
Its all about finding a perfect compramise

KtF
Joe

[joelatics]

Craig is a legend!
If you want a role-model admin, look no further than him

KtF
Joe

[Trublu]

Craig is a good example. (Link for anyone who may come along and know who we are talking about: Craig's profile).

[joelatics]

So what exactly is it that makes him such a good admin?
Surely it's that he's always there when needed in support, he's friendly yet intimidating, and he never blows a fuse at answering the same question 50+ times to various newbies!

KtF
Joe

[ashley]

An administrator should try to be just as active as his or her members. Even more than that. If something is going on with the site, or if they're switching hosts for whatever reason, he or she should let their members know, so they can get their accounts deleted (if the forum allows their members to delete their accounts) and get last minute posts in and stuff like that. Also an administrator should be fair on punishments, as well. They shouldn't ban someone if it was only their first offense at breaking rules, even if the person had a reputation of a trouble maker on another forum.

[nyaccent]

I feel an admin should be an active part of the site. Available to the members throughout the day. Of course they are allowed to go on vacation, but then leave the board to someone who can handle problems when they aren't there. An absentee admin's board will always fail.

The admin must follow thru on any rules that they set. Just like parents. Of course there are certain situations that may prevent certain rules from happening like the no post rule and you'll be deleted.

A good admin shouldn't rely on their staff to have the board up and running. While staff is great and they sure do help out alot, the admin should be able to run the board entirely on their own or they should delete some topics.

A good admin could be a friend, but also has to be take charge and be able to make decisions. They should also be able to delegate and give some authority to their staff. Make them feel important because they are.

As I think of other qualities a good admin should have, I'll come back and post them.

[Blackie]

I think that an admin is a role-model. They are the ones the New members trust, and if you scare them away, then they won't have anyone to turn to. Like I tell my members, I'm not just an admin, but I'm someone you can talk to about whatever. Rant to me. Rave to me. Laugh at me, or with me. I don't mind. But, and admin must also enforce the rules. This includes making NO exceptions, even for themselves. Its like a domino effect. If the admin breaks a small rule, a staff might, and then a member. The member will get into trouble, then the staff, then it falls on the admin.

Also, and Admin should keep their members entertained. Stay active, come up with crazy stuff, and so on. As well, if a problem comes up, they should find a way to fix it as soon as they find out. Whether it's a big or small problem, it should be dealt with.

If I think of anything else, I'll edit this post. But, those are some things that make a good admin.

[Hawke]

I look at running the board as a business. I'd like to think I'm fair and impartial. I don't allow my personal life cross over into the board, because I think it's unprofessional. I TRY not to let my person feelings interfere with the running of the board. I'll let everyone else talk about whatever subject they want, I'll post accordingly, but I won't talk about my personal life. And if anyone has a problem with the board I'm ALWAYS there to help. I take critisisim constructively and try to better the board.

[finaddict]

I also look at being an Adminstrator as being a business. I am on everyday. I welcome new members and try to post interesting topics for my board. I will enforce the rules in a friendly matter when needs be but not let anyone bully or harrass myself or my staff or another member.

I try to put in the maximum effort on my new board. It is the only way to get a maximum return.

[Mr. Moon]

Usually I talk to my members on AIM, if they seem like a nice person (as to not screw my site over), have the abilities to do it, and want to do it, I usually make them an admin if there's a spot open.

It works for me. ;D

[Pipamonium]

I believe the admin needs to be the parent of the board as well as the role model. They need to be active and open to suggestion. They need to be willing to befriend their members and never play favourites. They need to treat all members the same, weather they be old or new members. They need to be willing to do anything and everything at the drop of a hat and not need to rely on anyone for anything if need be.

[Trublu]

Jan 27, 2009 5:44:23 GMT -5 Pipamonium said:

I believe the admin needs to be the parent of the board as well as the role model. They need to be active and open to suggestion. They need to be willing to befriend their members and never play favourites. They need to treat all members the same, weather they be old or new members. They need to be willing to do anything and everything at the drop of a hat and not need to rely on anyone for anything if need be.

That's a great analogy, pipamonium, I think you hit on some great points in there. I guess the only difference would be that on a forum, members have a bit more input to how they are being "raised", so to speak.

[Pipamonium]

You can call me Pipa for short if you want.

Of course they get more input on how they're raised than we did growing up but still. I was having a discussion on this with a friend from a completely different site. On there he is the owner of a clan but the principal of it all works.

A good administrator will attract good members and good members will stick around with a good administrator. If a member feels welcome and important and like they can make a difference they're going to want to stay around and participate. If they see favourites and power abuse they'll run away screaming.

Back in grade school I was forced to go to one of those 'Future Leaders' seminar things and the first thing they taught was to meet and greet everyone. If someone feels like they have a friend they're likely to hang around until they're hooked.

[Celeste]

Nov 3, 2008 9:35:03 GMT -5 Trublu said:

What do you guys think makes a good administrator, versus a good staff member or a good member? What kind of qualities should an admin have (or not have), and what kinds of things should they do (or not do) as admin of a forum?

A good administrator:

• Needs to be friendly and welcoming to all posters
  
• Needs to be available regularly to take care of the board and its members
  
• Goes out of their way to solve posters' problems
  
• Is fair, imposing the same rules on all members
  
• Is patient and calm in the face of various opinions, criticism, repeated (sometimes silly) questions, and flaring tempers
  
• Needs to be firm with violators of TOS and forum rules
  
• Is compassionate with members' with difficulties
  
• Willing to admit it when they don't know the answer to something
  
• Needs to admit if they've made a mistake and try to correct it as quickly as possible
  
• Welcomes feedback, bad and good