Every once and a while, it's crucial to "change things up" in order to keep the staff team motivated and willing to assist in the growth of the community. The consequences of ignoring this very fact are dire - sometimes leading to the slow demise of a community. What have you done (or, what do you do) to motivate your team?
That tends to be a hard thing when people are naturally easily distracted. I find that more and more staff seem to only become motivated when they feel a part of the forum. I'd say some new ways to get the staff motivated would be to make some staff-only contacts where the prizes make the staff feel like they're well-rewarded.
I make graphics for them and such. I had a staff member who wanted to leave MANY times, I convinced her to stay, she is one of the people who has supported me till no end, I appreciate her, I would be sad if she left. But talking to a member, making graphics for them, making them feel special, which they are.
I think what motivates my staff is that they have a reason to go schmooze with and strike up conversations with bigwigs in their field. (That, and they like keeping the forum tidy.)
Sorry, what do you mean by "...they have a reason to go schmooze with and strike up conversations with bigwigs in their field."
They have a reason to go talk to people who they otherwise might not get the chance to; the forum would provide them some exposure to a lot of people in the field, so they're interested in being invited to chat as a special guest.
We give away awards at the end of the year. We have member of the year etc but there's also a few for staff member of the year and stuff like that. Also holding a little drawing for a prize every once in awhile keeps them motivated. Most of them just enjoy having the mod power and helping out the community and making it grow so that's enough incentive for them.
