This is not our idea but we think Jeremiah Owyang is on to something with his call for a Community Manager Appreciation Day. Community Managers have tough and often under-appreciated responsibilities. They are the glue that often keeps a community from going off the deep end, metaphorically speaking. They are the person who offers and ear, finds a way to respond, and rallies various participant groups. At various times they act as a librarian, ombudsperson, therapist, writer, trainer, catalyst, evangelist, policeman, expert, or analyst – sometimes all in one day. It can be both incredibly rewarding and incredibly exhausting work. The people who tend to be community managers are those with limitless curiosity about people, a deep desire to be helpful, a willingness to play lots of different roles, and an ability to deal with a lot of ambiguity.
So here’s to all the community managers out there! If you have a particular community manager in mind, spend a few minutes today to say thank you, take them to lunch, or put a little surprise in their day.
