A cartoon from get satisfaction.com that appears in 10 Qualities of an Effective Community Manager
This article on the 10 Qualities of an Effective Community Manager is a very pertinent follow on from the previous one on the Obamas by Judith Ireland, that I shared in the previous post.
Qualities such as empathy, dedication and passion ring true.
What is the connection to the Obama story you might ask? It’s the notion that Obama presents as a living example of an empathetic and dedicated spouse – qualities the US citizens clearly appreciate in their leader. Perhaps they subconsciously think “If he can be like that to her, he will be empathetic and dedicated to us”. I would add to this mix that through his love for Michelle, he embodies passion – and therefore perhaps by extension a passion for the brand he’s commissioned to uphold, which is brand USA.
On a personal note, I found it heartening to read this article because it talks about a good community manager being dedicated. Such dedication is like parenting, it’s all consuming. “When you’re a community manager, you’re on 24/7”. The reason I appreciated reading this is that I’m constantly given a hard time by my family and friends for “not switching off” from work. It’s hard to explain to them that not being able to switch off isn’t so much a function of being bludgeoned into it by a uncaring boss – rather that community (or relationship) management is instinctual and requires 24/7 vigilance. Much like one cares for a child one doesn’t do parenting in only one section of the day – as any parent would testify, even if your child isn’t with you, it’s constant vigilance. I therefore whole heartedly agree with the article author, Scott Monty, this type of work is a lifestyle – “If you want to check in at 9 a.m. and out at 5 p.m., you’re in the wrong field.”
10 Qualities of an Effective Community ManagerAs more companies and more industries buy into the benefits of social media and community development, the number of job opportunities available for professionals with community-building skills also continue to grow.
