Moderator and Forum Coaching
The Moderator Role
The moderator has two primary functions: protect the 'container' and elevate the conversation.
Protecting the container refers to all the ground rules of forum (confidentiality, structure, issue clearing, course-correcting on unsolicited advice, noticing who has not spoken, etc.). Elevating the conversation means finding new prompts to generate new content. This can take many forms, such as asking questions that take the group one layer deeper than it would have gone on its own, or finding a new update form, or a new format.
Being the moderator is a really hard job sometimes, especially if your forum is in a complicated season of life. Being the moderator is also not your only job, so don't be too hard on yourself if it feels like a bit much.
What is covered?
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Running the container: the confidentiality reminder, timing, and agenda
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Polite ways to correct protocol in your peers
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Running a deep dive, and offering the framework menu
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Issue clearing, and how to help your forum do this when needed
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Reading a flat group and restarting it
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What to do when things are off in a forum, whether it is attendance, content, or bad vibes
TWO WAYS TO WORK WITH US
Moderator coaching supports the person running the room. Sessions are tailored to whatever is actually happening in your forum, and the moderator brings a live issue rather than a case study.
Forum coaching is an annual contract that supports the whole group. The moderator meets our coach every month to plan the next meeting, with our full resource library to build it from. The coach also drops into meetings virtually to teach something in a few minutes, and sends the group material worth reading between sessions.
Tell us what is happening in your forum and we will tell you which of these fits.