Read on Twitter
In honor of #CommunityManagerAppreciationDay, some food for thought:
There are some truly dedicated, hardworking CMs out there who aren't very online. They may not dedicate their personal socials to the brand and may choose to remain behind the curtain.
They deserve love, too.
There are some truly dedicated, hardworking CMs out there who aren't very online. They may not dedicate their personal socials to the brand and may choose to remain behind the curtain.
They deserve love, too.
If you really appreciate the community managers in your favorite spaces, consider that they also deserve a healthy and happy life outside of work.
Don't shit on a CM for "not caring about the community" if they don't constantly tweet about work content, or don't answer your DMs.
Don't shit on a CM for "not caring about the community" if they don't constantly tweet about work content, or don't answer your DMs.
Seriously. Don't do that. I'm not even a CM anymore but I will know, I will find you, and I will threaten you with a knife emoji 
Because most CMs adore their communities and are passionate about the product — which is precisely why the burnout rate is so damn high in this particular role.
The whole "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" thing? Doesn't apply here. It's not true.
The whole "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" thing? Doesn't apply here. It's not true.
Do what you love, and never get an actual break throughout most of your career because it becomes increasingly difficult to separate your work life and your personal life, actually.
And if CM work was a super cushy, easy, entry-level job, perhaps that wouldn't be quite as hard to manage.
But it's not.
Community management requires strong communications skills, knowledge & expertise, empathy, critical thinking and then some. It's hard work!
But it's not.
Community management requires strong communications skills, knowledge & expertise, empathy, critical thinking and then some. It's hard work!
So when we measure the success & skill of a community manager by how much of a "face of the brand" they might be... it's actually establishing some pretty unhealthy expectations for people who already work so damn hard, and with so much love and care for what they do.
Remember to appreciate the CM work that's less visible, and know that some of your favorite product features and useful updates just might be the result of a community manager you've never met or interacted with, working hard behind the scenes to make your voice heard.
