Becoming a Great Scrum Master

About a decade ago, most people, especially those not involved in IT, knew nothing about Agile. However, fast-forward ten years, and almost all organizations and enterprises know a bit about Agile.

The agile transformation has in fact begun in most organizations, but others are unsure about where and how to start. Most people who have experience with Agile agree on one particular thing: it is a better way of working.

The scrum master plays a significant role in Agile transformation by helping the team work the Agile way, ensuring that the team is well organized and that each member is always serving the greater good of the team and helping the team overcome challenges. A Scrum Master is a teacher, leader, and a change agent, capable of building a team that can govern its own affairs and ultimately making the team capable of operating without the scrum master's intervention.

However, not all scrum masters take delight in these roles, instead considering their designation a way of moving up the ladder. Then there are those who desire to be heroes via the role, while others maintain the vision of becoming a scrum master, perhaps inspired by another scrum master, for the inspirational goodwill that the role may offer. Situations abound where managers pick any available person to become a scrum master. I have seen some people succeed in this job and seen others grow weary and run out of the zeal it takes to continue. I have also seen some really thrive while others get exhausted, de-motivated, and eager to just run away. There is more to becoming a good scrum master than zeal, focus, and motivation. Becoming a good scrum master goes beyond being determined, inspired, and excited to succeed. It requires soft skills and leadership plus a solid understanding of Agile, its principles, and practices.

A good scrum master has the courage and will to learn despite challenges. The path can prove challenging, bumpy, and uneasy, but a good scrum master maintains courage and the will to learn. This book acts as a guide toward acquiring the necessary knowledge and the requisite skill set to succeed as scrum master. I have been privileged to coach and train several scrum masters, executives, product owners, and teams in different countries and industries, so I offer here real-life experiences. In fact, most of the scenarios explained in this book are actual cases, but I have changed the names of individuals and organizations in order to protect anonymity.