Group Mod Etiquette - Professionalism & Interacting With Other Mods
Its important to remember that as Group Moderators, we are all part of the same big mod family. Just like family members, we may not always get along or agree. Thats completely fine and normal! But, also like family members, we are bonded as a team and its important that we know how to communicate effectively with one another.
A few tips and reminders:
Its essential that we provide a united front and have each others backs. When you disagree with a fellow mod, please do not call them out in the group support rooms. Instead, PM them and explain your point of view in a respectful and helpful way. Getting into a mod vs mod argument in a room distracts from the conversation as well as brings down the morale in the room. Its important that conflicts between mods are de-escalated one on one or with the help of a group mod leader or group support quality mentor.
Similarly, we never want to talk about another user when they are not present. Please do not vent frustrations about other mods in rooms. Remember the golden rule and treat others as you would like to be treated. Its always hurtful to hear that someone was talking about you behind your back.
Respect the authority of your fellow moderators. If you are called into a room to help with a conflict or emergency, PM other mods that were already in the room before you. It can be as simple as Hey. I heard there was a problem in the room. Can you fill me in? Or if it seems like they have the situation under control, Just checking to see if you need back-up.
Since some communities are now opting in to community centered moderation, its important to keep in mind that these teams may have additional training for their moderators. Teams like trauma, self-harm and LGBTQ+ require that the moderators on their teams receive additional information or training. If you are a global mod and are called into one of the rooms that is community centered, take extra time to assess the situation and PM other mods that are already in the room. If youre entering a room that you do not regularly participate in, check to see if other mods present are part of that team before intervening, de-escalating the situation or sending out warnings. Global moderators are welcomed and encouraged to respond to emergency situations when needed, but make sure youre aware of guidelines or rules that may be a bit different than our universal chatroom rules.
Please remember that if you are ever unsure of how to proceed with conflict resolution or if a fellow mod is acting unprofessionally, bring it up to me, group mod leaders or group support quality mentors. We are always happy to talk through issues and strategize on how we can move forward as a more unified mod team.
Add your thoughts, tips or questions below! 
Thank you so much for sharing this! It definitely is important to remain courteous, especially as a leader. 
@Kate Great post
It may be worth adding that in some teams where additional training is required as laid out in your post, that regular mods and co hosts/hosts are scheduled regularly to host scheduled sessions in rooms opened only for sessions for short periods eg trauma, perhaps self harm etc so it would be respectful for global mods to allow those mods scheduled regularly to moderate those sessions. There is no need for global mods in these situations as the role of the moderator scheduled by this team is to moderate.
However any mod interested in joining any team is welcome to do so if they are interested This then opens up opportunities for teams to offer more sessions to their members
@Kate @DancingRainbow45 @SweetLily41
Could we also make it so that any global mods that will help with conflicts in the self harm, trauma or LGBTQ rooms go through the trainings that we provide too? I think that's part of the problem of having outside mods come into rooms like self harm, trauma,or LGBTQ it's not that they are incapable of helping out, it's just those areas have a specific way we like our mods to handle situations! For example, some who is having self harm urges and a mod doesn't realize the difference between self harm urges and being actively suicidal then we run into issues because mods will refer to suicide hotlines when that's not the protocol! I think it's important that global mods are all on the same page and know how rooms work before just jumping into rooms like self harm, trauma and LGBTQ! It's about consistency and understand how we do things!
@Eccho I agree with your points eccho and consistency is very important and everyone being on the same page. I like the idea of mods learning about the protocols of how we would handle certain situations. I think that would be valuable. eg self harm being a coping strategy as opposed to redirecting someone to the nearest suicide hotline.
I have to say I dont remember the last time we needed a mod to come into the support sessions we run weekly in trauma where we also have a moderator present in their role being there to moderate. And so any issues that crop up, the moderator would be trained to deal with. If for any reason there was an emergency situation, I feel it would be better to use mods from that community first if at all possible given not only are they trained mods by cups but also trained in addition in the specific issues and needs of that community and its members. Perhaps it would be useful to have a list of all mods listed from each of those communities (taken perhaps from each teams leaderships section or team dashboard) as an idea
@Kate Thank You for makint this post. It has been well stated here that Trauma and other sepcial teams have particular training for to tend to our members. What hasn't been said is why. Our SubComs are filled with folks with very particular issues. For many it takes a long time to gain trust with them. I was active in Trauma Support Forums for almost 2 months before the members would begin to open up to me. To just jump in can be harmful when they don't know you even if your words are proper and kind. As far the Trauma Support Room goes, it is only open for Group Discussions, Special Closed Groups like our DID Workbook group, and Open Chat, and then it is closed when we are done. We do not open for anything without having our own Co-Hosts, Staff to support comments, and our own Moderators. There is no need for any other mods to be there at alle. I have been tasked with and active in strengthening and securing our room during groups, Here is a sample of what I send to non Trauma Support Listeners and Mods whom enter our groups: "welcome to our Trauma Support Discussion. Alle visiting mods and listeners are welcome to come and to stay and silently observe. We do have our own team in place for modding as well as responses to our members. Many of them are extremely sensetive and don't do well with strangers so we ask that you don't participate in member support. If you wish to participate in the discussion, please come back in your member or a guest profile. We thank you for this. If you are interested in maybe joining the Trauma Support Team please let me know after the discussion and I will link you to the proper thread. Thanks for your understanding."
There has been many whom understand and comply with our request, and there has been those whom take their greivance with this out on me in our group for alle to see and be stressed by. This has been done by some I don't have ability to moderate and clear their message in our own room. I would request ability to do so in the trauma room, for to keep the peace and comfort of alle as well as the image of the site and the offices people hold.