Developing People and Teams [P2]: Leadership Styles - The 28 characteristics of a great scrum master Flashcards
What does the SM act as? (7)
Servant Leader
Facilitator
Coach
Conflict navigator
Manager
Mentor
Teacher
Explain the “Servant leader” part of an SM
Facilitator- by setting the stage and providing clear boundaries in which the team can collaborate;
Explain the “Facilitator” part of an SM
Facilitator- by setting the stage and providing clear boundaries in which the team can collaborate;
Explain the “Coach” part of an SM
Coach- coaching the individual with a focus on mindset and behaviour, the team in continuous improvement and the organization in truly collaborating with the Scrum team;
Explain the “Conflict navigator” part of an SM
Conflict navigator- to address unproductive attitudes and dysfunctional behaviors;
Explain the “manager” part of an SM
Manager- responsible for managing impediments, eliminate waste, managing the process, managing the team’s health, managing the boundaries of self-organization, and managing the culture;
Explain the “mentor” part of an SM
Mentor- that transfers agile knowledge and experience to the team;
Explain the “teacher” part of an SM
Teacher- to ensure Scrum is understood and enacted.
What does a great SM do?
(1) Involves the team with setting up to process
(2) Understands team development
(3) Understands principles are more important than practices
(4) Recognizes and acts on team conflict
(5) Dares to be disruptive
(6) Is aware of the smell of the place
(7) Is both dispensable and wanted
(8) Let his team fail (occasionally)
(9) Encourages ownership
(10) Well read
(11) Well studied
(12) Is RE-TRAINED
(13) Has faith in self-organization
(14) Values rhythm
(15) Knows the power of silence
(16) Observes
(17) Share experiences
(18) Has a backpack full of different retrospective formats.
(19) Can coach professionally
(20) Has influence at organizational level
(21) Prevent impediments
(22) Isn’t noticed
(23) Forms a great duo with the Product Owner
(24) Allows leadership to thrive
(25) Is familiar with gamification
(26) Understands there’s more than just Scrum
(27) Leads by example
(28) Is a born facilitator.
Explain the SM aspect of “Involves the team with setting up to process”
ensures the entire team supports the implemented Scrum process
Explain the SM aspect of “Understands team development “
Tuckman’sdifferent stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning
Explain the SM aspect of “Dares to be disruptive “
understands some changes will only occur by being disruptive. Knows when it’s necessary and is capable to be disruptive enough to enforce a change, but without causing irreparable damage
Explain the SM aspect of “Is both dispensable and wanted”
supported the growth of teams in such a manner they don’t need him anymore on daily basis. But due his proven contribution he will get asked for advice frequently. His role has changed from a daily coach and teacher to a periodical mentor and advisor.
Explain the SM aspect of “Let his team fail (occasionally)”
A great Scrum Master knows when to prevent the team from failing but also understands when he shouldn’t prevent it. The lessons learned after a mistake might be more valuable than some good advice beforehand.
Explain the SM aspect of “well read”
Has read…stuff produced by e.g. Geoff Watts, Lyssa Adkins, Tobias Mayer, Henrik Kniberg, Growing Agile and Gunther Verheyen. Basically he knows whom to follow in his area of study
Explain the SM aspect of “well studied”
Has studied… theTrelloboard[4]that Growing Agile has published. The Shu-Ha-Ri levels offer a very useful structure to a knowledge base for every Scrum Master.
Explain the SM aspect of “Is RE-TRAINED”
A great Scrum Master recognizes himself in the acronym made up byGeoff Watts
Explain the SM aspect of “Has faith in self-organization”
- “Bring it to the team” is his daily motto
- increase ownership of the work
- Some examples are: they make their own decisions about their work, estimate their own work, have a strong willingness to cooperate and team members feel they are coming together to achieve a common purpose through release goals, sprint goals and team goals
Explain the SM aspect of “Values rhythm”
does everything to create and maintain it. The sprint rhythm should become the team’s heartbeat, which doesn’t cost any energy. Everyone knows the date, time and purpose of every Scrum event. They know what is expected and how to prepare. Therefore a complete focus on the content is possible.
Explain the SM aspect of “Observes”
- He doesn’t have an active role within every session. The daily Scrum for example is done by the team itself
- clearer outside perspective
Explain the SM aspect of “Share experiences”
- This might be within the organization, but also seminars and conferences are a great way to share experiences and gather knowledge.
- writing down your lessons learned
Explain the SM aspect of “Share experiences”
- This might be within the organization, but also seminars and conferences are a great way to share experiences and gather knowledge.
- writing down your lessons learned
Explain the SM aspect of “Has a backpack full of different retrospective formats.”
- ensures the retrospective will be a fun and useful event for the team.
- knows what format is most suitable given the team’s situation.
- supports the team by hosting their own retrospective. To improve involvement this is an absolute winner!
Explain the SM aspect of “Has influence at organizational level”
- knows how to motivate and influence at tactic and strategic level.
- Some of the most difficult impediments a team will face occur at these levels; therefore it’s important a Scrum Master knows how to act at the different levels within an organization.
