8.6 KiB
Session 8: Self-Evaluation and Pathways
Welcome
- Slide: Tag Yourself
Intro - 5 min
This is the last session. Wahoo! Where did the time go?!
Last week we talked about conflict. Some of you may have had difficult conversations since then. That's the good stuff, as eileen would say. It's okay if things feel unfinished or messy. You don't have to have it all figured out by now. We hope you feel you have the tools and the trust to keep figuring it out together.
What happens next is going to be harder than the program. You'll ship a game, or you won't. Money will come in, or it won't. Life will get busy. And the governance practices you've built over these weeks can quietly erode if you stop doing them.
You might skip a governance meeting because you're crunching… then another. Someone starts "just handling" the finances because it's easier than showing someone else how to do it. Six months later someone asks "why are we even a co-op?" and no one has a good answer. This is the most common way cooperatives fail.
The post-program supports we're about to talk about exist to keep up your momentum and help you build your collaborative muscles - and remember the “why.”
And today we pause to reflect on what you've built and where you're headed. We have two assessments - individual and studio - to help you see how far you've come and clarify your next steps.
And then we'll celebrate as a group!
Check-in - 5 min
What has shifted for you since Session 0? Has your emotional connection to the studio changed over the program?
Self-assessment overview - 5 min
It's easy to get into a groove and forget to check in with yourself. But clarity of self-reflection makes you a better collaborator. Most of the work is making the time and space to sit with your thoughts before writing them down. That's what prevents decisions made in haste or fear and builds intentional practice instead.
We have two assessments for you today. The first is personal and private – just for you. The second is collective – you'll complete it as a studio, and Baby Ghosts will review it to understand where you're at and how to support you going forward. This is also important feedback for us, so please be honest about what worked and what didn't.
Personal self-assessment - 10 min
This is private. Baby Ghosts won't see it. Your studio won't see it unless you choose to share.
This helps you get a clearer sense of your personal and professional baseline. Be on the same page with yourself before you meet with your team. Where have you grown? Where do you still feel uncertain? What do you need from your collaborators that you haven't asked for yet?
[TODO-06: Link to assessment form when ready. Tracked in Asana.]
Studio self-assessment - 10 min
This is collective. You'll complete it together as a studio, and Baby Ghosts will review it to understand where you're at and how to support you.
The template is on your studio Miro board. You'll rate where your studio is on each of seven areas using this scale:
- Considering/Reflecting – You've thought about it individually but haven't discussed it as a team yet.
- Discussing Collectively – You're talking about it together but haven't made decisions.
- Brainstorming – You're actively generating ideas and exploring options.
- Sifting/Sorting – You're narrowing down, making choices, working toward alignment.
- First Draft of Documentation – You have something written down – a policy, a process, a shared agreement.
The seven areas map to the arc of this program:
- Values, purpose & alignment
- Governance
- Decision-making & meetings
- Equitable economics
- Conflict & repair
- Program reflection
- What's next
Be honest with each other. A "2" in conflict resolution after eight weeks means you know where to focus. This assessment also helps you understand if your studio is ready to continue together, to pause, or to part ways. All of these are valid outcomes.
What's next - 15 min
Two questions to start: What do you want to focus on as a studio going forward? What's your plan for revisiting your governance and values after the program ends – and who's responsible for scheduling it?
Stay connected: Ghost Guild
When the program wraps up, your weekly Peer Support sessions end – but your Peer Support isn't going anywhere. They're still part of the community, and many are happy to hear from you as you hit milestones or run into challenges.
Going forward, your home base for support is the Ghost Guild – Baby Ghosts' alumni community. Program alumni are automatically enrolled. Membership includes free access to talks and workshops, community building with solo devs, early access to resources, and opportunities to become a Peer Support or contribute to the knowledge commons.
Keep practicing
Build in a revisit of your values and governance documents. Quarterly is ideal, twice a year at minimum. Put it on the calendar before you leave today. Ask: are we still practicing what we said we would? Where have we drifted? What needs updating? The studios that stay cooperatives are the ones that keep asking these questions.
Build in a self-accountability practice too. Values drift can happen quietly. To prevent it, make a regular habit of asking yourself: Did my choices today align with who I want to be? This can be as simple as a five-minute reflection at the end of the week, or a quick message to a collaborator: "Hey, I was short with you yesterday. That wasn't who I want to be. Sorry." You've been building this muscle all program. Stay strong! – put it alongside your governance review on the calendar.
Upcoming workshops
We offer standalone workshops throughout the year on topics we've introduced here – and some we haven't had time to cover in the program. These are included with Ghost Guild membership or available for public registration. Past and upcoming workshops include: Legal Structures & By-Laws, Business Planning, Grantwriting & Alt Funding, Social Impact, Advanced Governance, Miro / Tools Workshop, Why We're Here: Telling Your Studio's Story, and Process Development.
Interested in becoming a Peer Support?
Some of you may be interested in supporting future cohorts as a Peer Support. This is a paid role and a meaningful way to build capacity in the community – you already know firsthand what studios go through, and that experience is exactly what makes a great PS.
Here's what the role involves: you'd attend all program sessions alongside your assigned studios, facilitate weekly peer support meetings with one studio, and participate in PS training before the cohort starts. It's approximately 4-6 hours per week during the 10-week program. If you're someone who found yourself energized by the collaborative work, who notices group dynamics, and who cares about holding space for others – this might be a great fit. Talk to us after the session or reach out anytime.
Incorporation
If your studio is ready to incorporate as a cooperative, we can point you toward resources and service providers who understand cooperative structures. We don't provide legal advice, but we can help connect you with people who do.
And a reminder: you don't have to incorporate to work cooperatively. Many studios practice cooperative values and governance long before – or without ever – filing incorporation papers. The practices matter more than the paperwork.
[TODO-14: Develop resources, service providers, and readiness assessment. Tracked in Asana.]
Collaborative Zine Making - 35 min
Eileen leads this activity.
Closing - 5 min
You're about to re-enter an industry that defaults to hierarchy. Lawyers will draft conventional corporate structures. Funders will ask for a single point of contact. Publishers will want to know who's in charge. Your own teammates – under pressure – may reach for the familiar. This is expected. It's how we've learned to operate.
There is no self-made entrepreneur. Everyone is embedded in community – cooperatives just make that explicit. You've spent eight weeks building the muscle to do that together. Keep using it.
What's something you're proud of from the program? What conversation did you have that you wouldn't have had otherwise?
Homework
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Complete your personal assessment – Do this before your studio meets. This is private, just for you.
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Complete your studio assessment together – Meet as a studio and work through the template on your Miro board. This comes back to Baby Ghosts so we can understand where you're at and how to support you going forward.
[TODO-04: Add due dates for assessments]
And stay in touch. You're part of this community now. 👻👻👻