Is One Person Enough?

Being Community Manager can be one of the toughest jobs out there. I am serious. You’re expected to know everything, from how to engage with your community, to create content, moderate discussions, analyze data, and strategize to drive growth and engagement. Since my main focus is on tech communities, recruiters expect me to be also a programmer with a few years of experience. The list goes on. This can be frustrating and overwhelming, making the Community Managers question their place in the community world. It’s no wonder — the role is often the work of one person, who has to wear many hats and work in cooperation with other teams. Supporting their work, rarely the other way around.

The thing is — we’re treated like we’re one person who can do it all, and that’s not realistic. Community management is complex, and it involves different skills and knowledge that can’t all be mastered by one person. Even though I believe that Community Managers are people who are constantly trying to develop themselves, to complete courses, to have certificates. We simply can’t be Social Media Specialists, Marketing Specialists, Data Analysts, Facilitators, Event Managers and Community Managers at once. And let’s be frank, we often have to work with little support, no sense of direction, and no clear metrics for success. This can lead to burnout.

This may sound like a utopian dream but I firmly believe that companies need to start investing in creating community management teams. This team should consist of individuals with diverse skill sets and expertise, such as content creation, data analysis, social media management, customer support, and community engagement. By working together, they can share responsibilities, brainstorm ideas, and create a more cohesive and successful community strategy.

Creating a community management team also requires a shift in mindset. It’s not just about hiring more people to do the same job; it’s about recognizing the value of community management and investing in it as a core part of the organization’s strategy.

What can we do about it? My thoughts are that, first of all, we should constantly and persistently educate people and organizations about what a community is, and what the role of a community manager is.
I hope that soon the awareness of the importance of having a community and the role of a community manager will make companies start investing in creating — not a community manager position, but community management teams.