Boundaries clearly define safe and acceptable behaviour. They define what we are comfortable or uncomfortable with, and how we’d like to be treated by others. Boundaries clarify responsibilities and expectations, and help to build trust. When writing your community guidelines, use a positive tone to communicate the boundaries and the actions that will be taken when rules are broken.
Communities with a positive culture and limited conflict credit their success to having good rules communicated clearly to them from day one. Post your rules in the community description so they are easily accessible, and broadcast them regularly in the Announcement group. It is important to update your rules as your community grows and evolves so that they remain relevant to all members. Make sure to clearly and transparently communicate any new expectations or changes in rules, and introduce changes gradually to allow your community to react and adapt.
It is also important to consider personal boundaries within your admin role to set expectations around your availability and create space for your own wellbeing. For example, you might like to set your online hours to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, so let your admin team and members know that you won’t be responding to messages outside of this time.