A good Scrum Master is like a Swiss army knife, able to adapt to any situation and provide the team with the tools it needs to succeed.
A Scrum Master that focuses solely on Scrum event facilitation to ensure they “follow the rules,” and start and end on time is like a chef trying to prepare a gourmet meal using just one ingredient. Yes, Scrum events are important, but they are just one part of the Scrum Master accountability.
Coach
Scrum Masters coach team members in self-management and cross-functionality, ensuring everyone works together effectively. It's like being the coach of a sports team, but instead of whistles and clipboards, the Scrum Master uses Post-it notes and agile practices.
Personal trainer
They also help the team focus on creating high-value Increments that meet the Definition of Done. Like a personal trainer, they encourage the team to push themselves to their creative limits and achieve their goals. And just like a personal trainer, the Scrum Master is always there to help the team overcome any obstacles.
Sous chef
But the Scrum Master's accountability doesn't end with just the team. They also serve the Product Owner by helping with effective Product Goal definition and Product Backlog management. This aspect of being a Scrum Master is like being a sous chef, helping to prep ingredients and ensure everything is organized and ready to go. The Scrum Master also facilitates stakeholder collaboration, which is like being the maître d' of a fancy restaurant, ensuring everyone is happy and the team delivers precisely what the customer wants.
Teacher
The Scrum Master serves the organization by leading, training, and coaching the organization in its Scrum adoption. It's like being a personal trainer for the entire company, helping everyone to work together more effectively and get into shape. The Scrum Master also helps employees and stakeholders understand and enact an empirical approach to complex work, much like a teacher, showing everyone the ropes and guiding them along the way.
When in consultant mode, Scrum Masters provide expert guidance and advice to help the organization adopt the Scrum framework most effectively. The Scrum Master draws upon their experience and knowledge to ensure that the organization uses the framework to its fullest potential.
Mediator
The Scrum Master also helps remove barriers between stakeholders and Scrum Teams. Here, they act as a mediator, helping resolve conflicts and ensuring everyone works together towards a common goal. By facilitating communication and collaboration, the Scrum Master helps to break down silos and create a more unified and effective organization.
Timekeeper
Finally, the Scrum Master also helps the Scrum Team stay on track. This includes ensuring that all Scrum events occur and are positive, productive, and kept within the timebox. Like a timekeeper, they ensure everyone sticks to the schedule and that no time is wasted.
What happens without a Scrum Master?
If the Scrum Master only facilitates and ignores their other “Swiss army knife” tools, it can negatively impact the Scrum Team. Here are a few examples:
Lack of guidance and direction: Without coaching from the Scrum Master, the team can be confused about how to proceed with the work, ultimately resulting in lower-quality results.
Inefficient use of time: If the Scrum Master is only facilitating meetings and not coaching the team, there may be a lack of focus on creating high-value Increments and meeting the Definition of Done. This can result in the team spending time on low-priority tasks, leading to inefficient use of time and lower productivity.
Limited self-improvement: Coaching from the Scrum Master is critical for the team's self-improvement. Without it, the team may not get the constructive feedback or opportunities to reflect on their performance and identify areas for improvement. This can limit the team's ability to grow and develop over time.
Difficulty in removing impediments: If the Scrum Master is not engaging with the team through coaching, they might not be as effective identifying and resolving impediments, leading to delays in the team's progress.
Lack of collaboration: Without coaching, the team may not work together as effectively, leading to silos and a lack of cooperation.
Conclusion
While facilitating meetings is an important part of the Scrum Master's accountability, there is so much more the Scrum Team - and the organization - needs. Without coaching, for example, the Scrum Team may struggle to reach their full potential and experience a range of negative impacts that can hinder their success.
Overall, the Scrum Master is a versatile and indispensable Scrum Team member. They serve the organization, the Product Owner, and the team itself, helping to ensure that everyone is working together effectively and that the team is delivering high-value Increments. By wearing many hats and adapting to any situation, the Scrum Master helps to create a culture of agility and continuous improvement, leading the organization to greater success.
Scrum Day 2023
Get tickets for this year's Scrum Day conference scheduled for September 14, 2023, in Madison, Wisconsin! This year's theme is "Scrum is a team sport."
