Are we really managing communities?

Kevin Marks (who is an uber genius in my eyes) recently wrote a post on his blog with the very descriptive title of “Here Comes Everybody – Tummlers, Geishas, Animateurs and Chief conversation Officers help us listen

***(Big thanks to Sylvain Carle for directing this post to my attention ** disclosure ** I work for the company Sylvain helped to found – Praized Media)

Now you may think that what Kevin Marks is saying in his post is purely semantics and a rose by any other name would smell as sweet as an online community being tended to with the loving and attentive care of a Community Manager, Chief Conversation Catalyst, Community Gardener – or any other title you could place upon this role.

I usually believe that most titles are irrelevant or don’t fully describe the title-holder’s core competencies as most people truly wear many hats (especially in start ups). The title of Community Manager is a deceptive one as you don’t really ‘manage’ a community. Communities are organic, vibrant, self-existing entities requiring collaboration in order to thrive. The ‘community manager’ is essentially a facilitator – solving problems, encouraging conversations, asking questions.. Now how do you really create a title around something so dynamic?

This is the question I’m asking and hope you can help well in time for the printing of my business cards! Who better to ask – but the community?