Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
💥 We're offering a 15% discount on all content and design orders! 💥
Whether you need custom graphics or high-quality content, now is the perfect time to place your order and grow your community. This limited-time offer is available until further notice, so don't miss out!
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
GeneralCan a forum have too many staff members?
(1 Viewer)
Yes, a forum can have too many staff members. I find it’s intimidating to members when the staff-to-member ratio feels off. When a forum has an overwhelming number of staff compared to its regular user base, it can give off the vibe that the community is overly policed or that members’ every move is being scrutinized. This discourages engagement and makes the space feel less welcoming.
A bloated staff team might also lead to confusion or unnecessary conflicts among staff themselves, as too many cooks in the kitchen can create overlapping responsibilities or power struggles. Where one does a lot, and the other is not motivated to do anything. It’s important for each staff member to have a clear role and purpose within the community. Otherwise, you risk having inactive or redundant staff positions that don’t contribute to the forum's growth or atmosphere.
But the fault here often lies with the admins. Not being able to give out fair responsibilities to their team. Not taking control themselves. Or to a point where admins themselves don't do anything at all, and leave it up to the staff. It's bound to go wrong.
On the flip side, an active, engaged staff team that matches the needs of the community can do wonders. It’s all about the balance. A smaller, well-aligned staff team with clear communication and direction will almost always be more effective than a large, disorganized one.
If you have more staff than members, yeah, that's not appealing.
But if you have a lot of staff doing different parts (like here) or you have a very active forum with a lot of members, I think more staff can be beneficial as long as they're all active.
A forum full of stuff that looks inactive is an inactive-looking forum.
Yes, of course a forum can have too many staff members, like having more lifeguards than swimmers in a pool!
But I would say If there are too many staff members, it can create confusion, overlap responsibilities, and even intimidate regular users from engaging. Plus, with everyone trying to "help," it might feel more like a staff meeting than a lively community.
The key is to have just enough active, reliable staff to manage the forum's needs without turning it into an all-staff convention.