Announcement: Group Mod Challenge
Hello Moderator Team
I’ve got a challenge for you! Are you ready?
- Take a look at the communication styles as shown in the image above. Which four of the styles fit your communication style best? Let us know that in the comments below!
- Find a mod to partner up with to go mod and foster healthy conversation in the chat rooms for half an hour at least 6 times in a two-week span.
- Observe and take notes on the communication approach of your mod partner and the mod partner will be doing the same for you. (Please note that communication styles and approaches can and will vary and that’s alright!)
- Participate in the Group Mod Zone Room and compare your notes and share with fellow mods to learn about each others’ communication styles. Also, share the vibe of the room you both were modding to share in the Mod Room. The vibe of the room here means how was the room environment at the start of joining and when you left. You could share it on a scale of 1-10 where 1 would be “Meh” and 10 as “Awesome”.
Your mod partner can be:
- Any community moderator on shift (just let them know 1-1 before you join as a partner with them on their shift).
- A fellow community-centered chat room moderator of the same community who could be present at the same time as you will be able to participate in the room.
- A global moderator who could be present at the same time as you will be able to participate in the room.
To complete the challenge of visiting and moderating the rooms at least six times in a two-week span, your mod partner can be different if the same mod partner can’t be present. If you have more than one partner, you will simply take notes of different mods' communication styles and approaches and share them with them and fellow moderators in the group mod zone.
Every time you complete one session, drop it in the comments of this thread to log your active participation.
The goal of this challenge:
- Identify your own communication approach in the group dynamics and how it changed/evolved as the situation in the room changed.
- Identify how having a partner with you changed/ helped to foster a supportive and compassionate environment in the chatroom.
- What were the challenges? What surprised you? What type of communication approach works best for you?
At the end of this two-week challenge, you will receive information for the next one! And at the end of the quarter, the top 3 chat room moderators who complete all the challenges successfully will be awarded the most prestigious award: Award-Winning Mod!
Criteria of Award-Winning Mod
- Being passionate about group support chat rooms
- Being compassionate and engaging with the community members
- Being professional and ensure the safety of the room
- Using active listening and de-escalation with all chat participants.
- Being supportive to the fellow chat room moderators and room supports
- Being an open-minded communicator
- Being yourself and having fun while being there in the rooms.
Fun fact! To this day, only 12 chat room moderators have earned this exclusive award! And for extra incentive, every chat room moderator will be awarded 100 cheers per activity they complete.
I am signing up for the challenge and I invite every moderator to accept the challenge too! May we grow together as the best moderators of the community!
Activity #58
Partner: @CommunityModElliot
Session date: April 24th, 2021
Session time: 9:30pm-10:00pm
Room: Sharing Circle (Adult)
Notes: Co-modded sharing circle and helped a newbie host bring some structure back to the room. It was a learning experience trying to find a balance between what members wanted and what the usual structure is. Hoping I'll get the chance to work with you again soon. 
Activity #59
Partner: @CommunityModAaron
Session date: April 25th, 2021
Session time: 12:00am-1:00am
Room: Sharing Circle (Adult) / Support Room 24/7 (Adult)
Notes: So for this activity we decided that we would each take lead in one room and allow the other to observe as not to overcrowd the rooms with mods since it was a relatively quiet period. I took lead in SC and hosted that session, while Aaron supported members in Support Room. I think Aaron's style was a mix between socializer and relator. While mine was a mix between thinker and relator. Thank you for letting me join you on your shift! Looking forward to working with you again in the future.
Activity #60
Partner: @CommunityModJennie
Session date: April 25th, 2021
Session time: 1:15pm-2:00pm
Room: Sharing Circle (Teen)
Notes: So for this activity, I co-hosted / co-modded the session sharing circle session with Jennie. Glad Jennie was there to back me up when my laptop decided to restart for no reason mid-session. I switched to phone and continued to help out with the session, but obviously responses were slower. I think Jennie's style might be a mix between thinker and relator.
Activity #61
Partner: @CommunityModParker
Session date: April 25th, 2021
Session time: 6:15pm-6:45pm
Room: Support Room 24/7 (Adult)
Notes: Joined Parker for his shift when I responded to an emergency mod request so this was not a plan. I think Parker's style might be thinker, not sure, hard to tell. Regardless, thank you for letting me join you! Looking forward to working with you again in the future.
@richuyulin
no words. You've completed the challenge for 10 of us. As a friends of ours says! Drink some water :) Stay hydrated!
@jovialButterfly6752 Thanks for the hydration reminder!
Activity #62
Partner: @CommunityModElliot
Session date: April 25th, 2021
Session time: 8:30pm-9:00pm
Room: Support Room 24/7 (Adult)
Notes: Yayyy! I get to 'annoy' Elliot again. On a more serious note, it's always a pleasure working with Elliot. Another supportive check-in session completed. Elliot is a socializer, and I'm a mix between thinker and relator. Thank you for letting me join you yet again!
Activity #9
Partner: @richuyulin
Session date: April 26th, 2021
Session time: 9:30pm-10:00pm ET
Room: Support Room 24x7
Notes: Dropped in to support my friend @richuyulin <3 Tried to help with de-escalation. glad to see that the SR 24x7 is generally a more positive environment than before. I think I was a mix between a relator and a socialiser while Lin was a thinker :)
Activity #63
Partner: @CommunityModElliot
Session date: April 25th, 2021
Session time: 9:00pm-9:30pm
Room: Support Room 24/7 (Adult)
Notes: Another check-in session completed. This session was a bit challenging as we had to use our active listening skills to de-escalate things. But everything worked out and we manage to bring room environment back to one that's supportive. Once again, Elliot is a socializer, and I'm a mix between thinker and relator.
Activity #64
Partner: @jovialButterfly6752
Session date: April 25th, 2021
Session time: 9:30pm-10:00pm
Room: Support Room 24/7 (Adult)
Notes: Thanks you so much for dropping by and helping out with de-escalation. Your help is always appreciated! 
During this activity, jovial was a mix of socializer and relator, while I was a thinker. Looking forward to working with you again in the future. ^_^
Activity #64
Partner: @jovialButterfly6752
Session date: April 25th, 2021
Session time: 9:30pm-10:00pm
Room: Support Room 24/7 (Adult)
Notes: Thanks you so much for dropping by and helping out with de-escalation. Your help is always appreciated! During this activity, jovial was a mix of socializer and relator, while I was a thinker. Looking forward to working with you again in the future. ^_^
Apologies about doublicate post, not sure why it got posted twice, assuming a glitch occurred.
#Activity 6
Partner - @richuyulin
Date - 25th April 2021
Time- 11 - 11:30 pm ET
Room - Special Events
Notes - Lin hosted an amazing ice breakers event in the room , and I happened to join right in time for another collaborative mod event wooooo !
The session was fun and smooth, not much modding required per se , but our mod styles in the room were that of Socializer and also relators , I think that's a given being in the special events room, as a host and mod for lin and as a supportive participant and mod for me , to keep the room as engaged and active as possible and to ensure all having fun and feeling comfortable in the room . 😄
Thanks for this, lin, really appreciate your support alot 🤗❤