Online Community Management: The Importance of Ground Rules

The rise of online communities and forums has revolutionized the way we interact, share information, and build relationships. Just as in traditional team settings, establishing ground rules is pivotal for fostering effective communication and collaboration within these online platforms.

Types of Ground Rules in Online Communities

• Procedural Rules: These are akin to the rules of engagement. In the context of online forums, they might refer to guidelines like posting frequency, the timing of responses, or ensuring that every member's voice gets heard in a crowded discussion thread.
• Abstract Rules: These are broader and pertain to the community's mission or objective. While they emphasize the desired outcomes, they might not lay out the specifics. For instance, a rule might state, "Promote Positive Interactions," but it doesn't spell out what those positive actions are.
• Behavioral Rules: These are crystal clear about the do's and don'ts. For an online community, these could include guidelines like "No trolling," "Use respectful language," or "Cite sources when sharing information."

Eight Essential Ground Rules for Thriving Online Communities

1. State Your Views Clearly: In digital communication, ambiguity can lead to misunderstandings. Encourage members to be clear about what they think.
2. Share Relevant Information: Whether it's a news article or a personal anecdote, sharing enriches the community's knowledge pool.
3. Use Specific Examples: Instead of making generic comments, illustrating a point with specific examples can be more effective.
4. Explain Your Reasoning: If you're presenting an argument or perspective, explain why you think that way.
5. Focus on Common Interests: Despite differences, finding and focusing on shared interests can unify members.
6. Test Assumptions: Before reacting, it's always a good practice to ask for clarification.
7. Jointly Design Next Steps: In discussions that aim for a solution, involve members in deciding the way forward.
8. Address the Elephant in the Room: If there's a contentious issue that everyone's thinking about but no one's discussing, find a respectful way to bring it into the open.

For any online community to flourish, it's crucial for administrators and members to be on the same page regarding these rules. By agreeing on and actively reinforcing these guidelines, online forums can ensure that discussions are fruitful, relationships are positive, and the community as a whole thrives.