The Scrum Guide defines the Scrum Master role as a “servant-leader for the Scrum Team,” responsible for promoting and supporting Scrum by helping everyone understand the theory, practices, rules, and values. The Scrum Master is also tasked with removing impediments and helping the team become self-organized and high performing.
When the Scrum Guide says that Scrum Masters are “true leaders,” it means that the role requires the ability to lead without formal authority, by empowering and enabling the team to achieve its goals. This leadership approach is often referred to as servant-leadership, where the leader’s focus is on serving the team’s needs and removing obstacles, rather than issuing commands or directives.
Pros and cons
Some of the pros of having Scrum Masters as true leaders include:
· Improved collaboration: The servant-leadership approach of Scrum Masters can help create a collaborative environment where team members feel empowered and valued. This can lead to better communication and cooperation between team members.
· Increased team motivation: When Scrum Masters empower their teams to take ownership of their work and decision-making, team members may feel more motivated to achieve their goals and deliver high-quality work.
· Greater adaptability: By removing impediments and helping the team become self-organized, Scrum Masters can create a more flexible and adaptable team that can quickly respond to changes and challenges.
However, there are also potential cons to having Scrum Masters as true leaders:
· Lack of experience: Scrum Masters may not have the same level of technical or domain-specific knowledge as other team members. This may make it difficult for them to understand and help solve certain technical problems.
· Conflict of interest: As Scrum Masters are responsible for both the team’s success and adherence to Scrum principles, there may be situations where these two goals conflict. For example, if a team member is not adhering to Scrum principles, the Scrum Master may need to hold them accountable, which could harm team cohesion.
· Difficult to balance responsibilities: The Scrum Master role can be challenging, as it requires balancing multiple responsibilities such as facilitating meetings, coaching team members, and removing impediments. This can be difficult to manage and may lead to burnout.
Overall, having Scrum Masters as true leaders can have significant benefits for a Scrum Team, but it also requires a specific leadership approach and a balance of responsibilities. It’s important to consider the pros and cons before assigning someone to the Scrum Master role and providing them with the appropriate training and support to ensure success.
Becoming a true leader
To become a true leader as a Scrum Master, there are several steps you can take to develop the necessary skills and qualities. Here are five important steps to consider:
1. Understand Scrum principles and values: A true Scrum Master should have a deep understanding of the Scrum framework, its values, and principles. This means taking the time to learn about Scrum, attending training, and staying up to date with the latest changes and updates.
2. Develop strong communication skills: As a Scrum Master, you will need to be an effective communicator, able to listen actively, ask the right questions, and provide clear and concise feedback. This includes facilitating meetings, resolving conflicts, and coaching team members on best practices.
3. Practice servant-leadership: The role of a Scrum Master is to serve the team, not to manage or control them. To become a true leader, you should adopt a servant-leadership approach, putting the needs of the team first and supporting them in achieving their goals.
4. Foster a culture of continuous improvement: As a Scrum Master, you should encourage the team to continuously improve and learn from their experiences. This means providing opportunities for retrospectives, encouraging feedback, and helping the team identify areas for improvement.
5. Develop a growth mindset: To become a true leader, it’s essential to have a growth mindset, which means embracing challenges and seeing failures as opportunities for learning and growth. This mindset will help you stay positive and focused on continuous improvement, both for yourself and the team.
In summary, becoming a true leader as a Scrum Master requires a combination of technical knowledge, soft skills, and leadership qualities. By following these five steps, you can develop the necessary skills and mindset to empower your team and facilitate successful Scrum projects.