Advice for New Scrum Masters

We’re all nervous when we’re trying something new. Leaning into that discomfort is how we grow. So we asked our internal group of Certified ScrumMasters, what’s the best advice you could give for someone who is stepping into Scrum Mastery for the first time? Here’s what they had to say to all the new Scrum Masters out there.

Related Article: Adivce for New Product Owners

Reach out to your Product Owners 

The relationship you will have with your Product Owner is one that you should cherish and invest in. Don’t take this for granted. Spend time with your Product Owner to understand how they work and who they are. This will help you be better equipped to coach them and support them in working with the team and managing the backlog. Cody, 3 years as a ScrumMaster

A big part of being a ScrumMaster is being able to put yourself in the shoes of the team. The ability to empathize and understand everyone will help you be a better coach. For Product Owners in particular, understanding not only their needs but also their challenges will help you be better at coaching them. Are they discovering problems to solve, do the face challenges prioritizing, or do they need help facilitating a specific conversation? It’s important to understand what the team is ready for, what the Product Owner needs, and how you can help the team and the Product Owner discover what needs to happen next. Steven, 3 years

Stay curious

Ask questions before deciding on the appropriate next steps. It’s very tempting to do something as soon as the team asks you. Don’t. Stop first and ask questions like, What is the goal? or Can you tell me more? By being curious, you’ll get much better information and a more in depth understanding to help you decide the right way to move forward. Sarah, 2 years 

Keeping the perspective of other people in mind will help you earn their trust and respect. If you’re trying to create a team whose members feel safe to voice concerns or innovate, trust and respect are some of the most important things for them. Innovation aside, our world is constantly changing. Learning about helpful facilitation techniques (like curiosity) and being able to move those conversations forward will keep your team become confident in the contributions they’re making towards their goal. Steven, 3 years

Not every problem is your problem to solve

Anytime there is a problem, that doesn’t automatically make it your problem as ScrumMaster Impediment Remover Extraordinaire. Help the team solve their own impediments. TJay, 2 years

Speak well of your team and encourage them. Kindness and encouragement when they are feeling down and out can make a difference in their outlook. Cody

Experiment, innovate, and improve

Try things out and be an advocate for experimenting. If the team sees you fail at something, share it out loud and proud so they know it is OK (and expected) to push the envelope to try new things. Lean into being uncomfortable. TJay

Becoming a better person makes you a better ScrumMaster. Spend time on personal improvement while working on continuous improvement with your teams. There is nothing more important than this. Teddy, 18 yrs as an agilist, 6 yrs as a ScrumMaster/Agile Coach

Don’t be stuck in your ways. Be open to new ideas and changing your mind. Coach the team to do the same when new facts or feelings come out. We’re agile for a reason. TJay

Ask for help

Ask for help. From other ScrumMasters, from leadership, from the internet! There is a wealth of knowledge and resources at your fingertips and people feel appreciated when you seek their guidance. TJay

Being a ScrumMaster is often a thankless job. There will be times where you feel alone, but remember you are not. If you are somewhere where you don’t have a good support group of other Agilists, find your self support in other places by attending a Scrum Alliance user group, joining Slack groups, or finding a mentor through networking. As scary as that sounds to talk to people outside of your network, having that support system will be well worth it. Tasha, 4 years 

“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” - Amy Poehler. This has been incredibly true for me, and I advise all ScrumMasters to do the same - regardless of your years of experience. Melissa, 11 years

Agility takes time

Meet your teams and your orgs where they are. It takes time to create agile mindsets, and not everyone is going to get on board. Take the victories where you can, and spend your time coaching those who want it, not those who don’t. Teddy

Agility does take time. Need to prove it to your team or leadership? Download the latest Business Agility Report: Special Edition by Scrum Alliance. We share all the data from the 2020 report, as well as our take on what it means for teams and organizations undergoing agile transformation. 

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What I Wish I'd Known As a New Scrum Master