Clark contends that “leaders are needed to define the environment, keep it safe, give it purpose, identity and keep it growing”. He gives a set of mantras for teacher/leaders in any online community:
all you need is love
control the environment, not the group
lead by example
let lurkers lurk
short leading questions get conversations going
be personally congratulatory and inquisitive
route information in all directions
care about the people in the community; this cannot be faked
understand consensus and how to build it, and sense when it's been built and just not recognised, and when you have to make a decision despite all the talking.
