As administrators, sometimes we can get a little too bogged down by the actual management of the forums, i.e. the stuff that happens behind the scenes and keeps the community running smoothly and on track. This aspect of our job is very, very important and should not be neglected.

However, an important part of running your forums is being visible on them. You want your members to know you. Be human, be involved – joke around, have fun if it’s in your nature and allow others to have fun – within your guidelines. Allowing your members to become familiar with you gives them the opportunity to see you as a real person and not just as an authority figure or a machine. This can lead to them being more responsive to you and respectful of you.

This goes for your staff members, as well. Part of being a staff member is participating. Your staff members should generally be ideal members before you invite them to join your team. And, once they come on board, they should continue to set an example that all members can follow through their own respectful, productive and kind participation.

There’s no doubt that the moving and removing of posts (as well as other, general administrative functions) is vital to the success of your forums, but you and your staff can do tremendous amounts of good by setting trends, showing people how to act and what your community is all about. Being a leader isn’t just about pushing buttons behind the scenes – it’s also about being a leader where everyone can see you.

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Patrick O’Keefe is the author of “Managing Online Forums: Everything You Need to Know to Create and Run Successful Community Discussion Boards”. He blogs at ManagingCommunities.com.