HELP NEEDED: community managers for CiviliNation Survey

CiviliNation is a nonprofit education and research organization focused on advancing the full capability of individuals to communicate and engage in cyberspace in a responsible and accountable way. Check out their resources for help with issues like online hostility, cyberstalking, and online conflict.

We’re very interested in the work that they are doing, specifically with regards to developing education and training for community managers in facilitation and mediation, which happen to be two of the new skills we identify in our book Open Community. Conflict resolution expertise may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re looking to hire a community manager (or when you’re working as one yourself), but being able to mediate arguments online and in public is a crucial skill.

Are you a Community Manager? CiviliNation needs your responses to a survey they have developed on the topic:

According to Founder Andrea Weckerle,

Online community managers are at the frontlines of action and carry enormous responsibility for the success of their communities, yet often aren’t sufficiently recognized for the challenges that are inherently a part of their work. It’s inevitable that community conflicts occur, and not shying away from tackling the sometimes uncomfortable issues that arise within communities can be the sign of a health and robust group. Yet if not managed properly, conflicts can also also tear a community apart. Unfortunately organizations often expect community managers to “learn as they go,” not realizing the tenuous position they therefore place these groups.

One of CiviliNation’s goals is to help educate and train online community managers is the conflict resolution skills they need to succeed. CiviliNation has therefore created a survey to determine community manager’s level of expertise in this area and what their specific and most pressing challenges are. The survey’s aim is to poll community managers from a diverse range of communities and serve as a foundation on which to create a customized conflict management training program. The results of the survey will also published online in a free and comprehensive report. As a thank you for taking the 10-minute online survey, participants are also entered to win a $25 Amazon gift certificate or a $25 donation to their favorite charity, whichever they prefer.

Help CiviliNation out. Take the survey here.