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Maintaining a Slack channel

TL;DR​

There are three things you should do to be a good channel maintainer in the dbt Slack community:

  • Once you see some folks in the channel, post initial conversation topics to help them get to know each other.
  • Keep an eye out in #introductions for folks who might benefit from your new channel. For example, if someone works in the space or on the same problems, then direct them to the channel.
  • Make sure folks follow the Rules of the Road in the channel. If you notice someone is not following one, gently remind them of the rule in thread, and, ideally, provide an example of how they can rephrase their message or where they can redirect it. If you have a question about how to proceed, just post it in #moderation-and-administration with a screenshot or link to the thread and someone will give you advice.

Scope of the role​

A maintainer can be a dbt Labs employee but does not have to be. Slack channel maintainer is philosophically similar to OSS maintainer. At the onset, the channel maintainer will help build up this new space in Slack and stir up conversation during the first few weeks of the channel's existence. They are someone who stays on top of feedback and encourages generative contributions. This is not necessarily someone who is the generator of content and contributions, or answers every question.

Initial instructions​

  1. Review the Rules of the Road and Code of Conduct and please let the folks who created the channel know that you read both documents and you agree to be mindful of them.

  2. To request a new channel, go to the #moderation-and-administration channel, click Workflows on the top of the channel description. Click Request a New Channel.

  • Fill out the fields and click Submit to submit your request. Someone will get in touch from there. request-slack-chnl

  1. If you are a vendor, review the Vendor Expectations.

  2. Add the Topic and Description to the channel. @Mention your name in the channel Description, identifying yourself as the maintainer. Ex: Maintainer: First Last (pronouns). If you are a vendor, make sure your Handle contains your affiliation.

  3. Complete or update your Slack profile by making sure your Company (in the ‘What I do’ field), Pronouns, and Handle, if you’re a vendor, are up-to-date.

  4. Post initial conversation topics once a few folks get in the channel to help folks get to know each other. Check out this example introductory post.

  5. Stir up conversation during the first few weeks of the channel's existence. As you get started, answer the questions you can or help find someone with answers, seed discussions about once a week, and making sure folks follow the Rules of the Road.

Long-term expectations​

  • Maintaining the channel, checking in, and being active on a regular basis by answering folks' questions, and seeding discussions. Want an example? Check out this poll.
  • For guidance on how to answer a question, see Answering Community Questions. If you are not sure how to answer a lingering or unanswered question, you can post about it in #moderation-and-administration or direct it to another channel, if relevant.
  • If the channel is an industry channel, it’s helpful to monitor #introductions and invite people. Keep an eye out for folks who might benefit from being in the new channel if they mention they are working in the space, or are thinking about some of these problems.
  • Make sure folks follow the Rules of the Road. For example, if you notice someone is not following one, gently remind them of the rule in thread, and, ideally, provide an example of how they can rephrase their message or where they can redirect it. If you have a question about how to proceed, just post about it in #moderation-and-administration with a link to the thread or screenshot and someone will give you advice.
  • In tools channels, sharing customer stories and product updates is very okay in this channel because folks expect that when they join. However, please avoid any direct sales campaigns, pricing offers, etc.
  • If you have any questions/doubts about the Rules of the Road and Vendor Expectations, please post a question in #moderation-and-administration about what sort of things the community expects from interactions with vendors.
  • A reminder that we never DM anyone in Slack without their permission in a public channel or some prior relationship.
  • A reminder that @ here/all/channel are disabled.
  • Use and encourage the use of threads 🧵 to keep conversations tidy!
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