Simplifying SC roles discussion

@Jill7cups

I think it would help to discuss the roles in the communities from time to time to educate people. By this, I mean a short chat in a room or a brief post in the forums. I would suggest to do this often but keep it brief. If you change it, you will still need to communicate and educate people. The broken link seems to be communication. I also think it would help to have more cooperation between communities, to support each other and maybe help a smaller team get on its feet.

I think some things could be simplied, especially when they are in name only. For example teen vs. adult roles - I don't see why they need to be called different things.

The same is true for the forums when it comes to listeners/members, if the role is the same it might be simplier to just use the same titles.

For some of the other things, I don't think the roles are all that confusing, but it can be confusing to look at as a newcomer. Should chatroom moderators and support session leaders be listed separately, as an example? The applications are the same, are they not? I do think it can be useful to designate the Support Team Leader but 1) I think this name is confusing, I think support team is confusing in general. 2) it doesn't necessarily need to be listed as an entirely separate role, but could be indicated as the leader for the chatroom aspet of the team.

For example, as the leader lists I could see:

Community Mentor Leader

Person 1

Chatroom Moderators

* indicates leader, + indicates they host discussions

Person 2 *+

Person 3 +

Person 4 +

Person 5

Person 6

Forum Mentors

Person 7

Person 8

Forum Supporters

Person 9

Room Supporters

Person 10

Feed Team

Person 11

Team Member

Person 12

Therapist Liaison

Self-Care Break

So I don't think any roles should be eliminated, but some of the reducdency with titles could be eliminated. That can be further simplified in terms of what people see without actually reducing the roles.

Looking at some of the SCs though brings up possibly eliminating one role and combining it with another - welcoming team member into just team member. I'm not sure if the welcoming team needs access to any tools, I would think in many cases they would belong to some other aspect of the team already, and I don't really see the point to list them separately.

I do also think it's important to note that there are also roles that aren't connected ot any SC, so even with simplifying these, there are still other aspects that people can get involved with.

I think it would be good to have a single thread for members and a single thread for listeners pointing out all the roles, which are potential starting points, the criteria and links to the applications. This has been attempted, but I have never seen a comprehensive list myself.

We would have to be careful on what we keep and what we don't. Some things could be consolidated. Others need spread out a bit more because of the workload. Smaller teams could share leadership. Sort of condensing leadership teams, without shutting rooms down. Kind of what we did with Positivity and Compassion. Sharing volunteers.Some titles could be renamed, as to be less confusing as well. We started doing that when we condensed titles (one example I can think of was restructuring naming from Group Support Quality Mentor Leader to Group Support Mentor Leader). Perhaps also, a page or posting dedicated to the various roles, with a brief description of what they are?

Hello there, Jill! I'm not understanding what you mean exactly by simplifying SC roles. Do you mean not having pre-requisite roles in applying higher leadership roles?

I believe that these pre-requisites are stepping stones for someone who's interested in applying for much heavier roles in the future. Each one of us was once a newbie and we all started at the bottom. Our journey here is like climbing a ladder, most especially if one wants to pursue leadership roles.

We all want to get acclimated to the community first and ensure that a community leader knows the ins and outs of the area/track they want to focus on before going on a higher leadership position. We want them to be equipped with the skills they've acquired and developed from their pre-requisite roles.

Over a year ago, there was a reorganization of roles for teen leadership (click here and here for info) and with this chart, it has helped us to know the different paths that teens can take if they want to be a community leader. I think that having this kind of chart would help people to be aware of what pre-requisite roles they should have in order to achieve the path they want to take -- not only for the teen leadership but also for overall leadership positions and opportunities.

I'd also suggest having a masterpost thread or page where all the leadership roles are indicated along with the requirements needed for each role. Because I just noticed that the become a leader in the mentor page we have doesn't specifically explain the requirements in detail. I also think that this page isn't visible enough for listeners to notice. It needs more exposure and should also be available for the members or probably make a page similar for members just like what @delightfuldragon87 said most of the time they're not just aware that it exists and there are people who are willing to help out to assist smaller teams or new leaders. Furthermore, I agree with what @AffyAvo said, badge title, role description, specific criteria, ambassador-in-charge must be mentioned and clarified as to make it easier to understand and to be updated in case there'll be changes in the criteria or application process. And this page can serve as a reference for people who wants to apply and take on leadership roles.

Edit: I also liked the idea of having a glossary just like what @Racat made in the past. Check it out here.

@Kate has also made a post in the past on role clarifications for group support track.

@Jill7cups well, i have a natural repulsion towards words like, leaders, managers, bosses, coordinators, whatever puts someone above someone else. I do my own thing in freedom, with common sense and my own thinking. Good luck with your ladder yeararchy and all sorts of "name titles". My title is "myself" and noone can ever take that away from me😂😂😂 bureucracy has clogged this place too...fine line between protection and freedom and it takes a fine sense to hold it...😔😔😔yes, good luck finding your way...

One of my friends recently told me this: "quit role playing".

Use words like buddy, friend, sister, twin...level words not hierarchy words...warm words not impposing words...learn from what people tell you and learn to love your people you snobs...

@Jill7cups I think the current structure works for large subcoms but even they might like simplification.

I know in subcoms with 5 discussions a week or less that there are way more roles than necessary. The only advantage to more roles is it prepares you to move into another role in the same side of the subcom like forums or discussions. I think you may need a CML and a leader of forums and discussions or the CML could be both of those. You need discussioin leaders and forum content creators. An discussion supporters and forum supporters. so that is possibly 5-7 roles per subcom. If CML leads discussions could be even fewer.

The other problem with having too many roles is people get maxxed out so quick with 3 room supporter roles in 3 subcoms.

@Jill7cups

Firstly, I suggest we add links to the information about subcommunities and also roles within them to every new member that joins 7cups.

I notice many SC seem to have so many team members they couldn't possibly all be playing a regular role within it, this makes me wonder how many team members actually get fed up and leave through lack of involvement. Some teams in my vew could be reduced greatly, dependent on SC traffic of course.

A list of roles and how to achieve them could also be posted on the top bar, front page along with guidelines, chatrooms, leaders etc. in every SC with a link to updated vacancies in that SC.

Each section/role is a speciality in itself, so linked information on how to achieve/apply for these could be added at the top of each section eg welcoming team, forum, chat room etc.

Keep it clear and well signposted including as suggested 'Kitchen Table'

Hi @Jill7cups and @7cupsCommunity,

There is already so much here, that I wonder if my opinion would even count.

There is SOOOOO much about the SC leadership that I do not understand - like A LOT. As a (M) of many subcommunities, and as a (L) who gets most of the updates, etc ... I still know very little about how the jobs within a SC are dispersed and who to "call on" when I personally am missing something (like a daily or twice/week check-in, for example).

A side note (maybe?): Is there a place to just vent things within the forum? or like within a certain SC? Is that appropriate or better in like 1-1 listener chat? I think I could "always" just start a new thread like, but for me it is always, Gee where do I go, how do I start this! It's frustrating. ~ Platy