To Do or Not to Do — A Scrum Master’s Dilemma

Yes, actively doing nothing is a legit strategy for the Scrum master!

Scrum master is not a passive role, and actively doing nothing is not the only intervention for the Scrum master.

Though Scrum masters don’t follow a playbook, the point of reference for their decision-making is always to enable or promote self-management.

Based on the context, they must configure their responses — both the intervention strategy and the optimal behavioral stance.

Here are a few questions the Scrum masters may consider to understand the context better -

- How mature is the team with Scrum?

- Is this an impediment to the team?

- What is the cost of failure?

- What is the short-term & long-term impact?

- What can the teams learn?

And so many more such.

After understanding the context, the Scrum masters arrive at what they deem the best intervention at that given time — Take action or actively do nothing.

If a Scrum master decides to intervene, they need to determine the optimal stance, which includes (& is not limited to)

- Teacher (Operating from a space of expertise, with an intent to transfer knowledge)

- Mentor (Operating from a space of expertise, with an intent to transfer experience & expertise)

- Facilitator (Operating from a space of neutrality, with an intent to apply the audiences’ knowledge to build consensus and meaningful outcome)

- Coach (Operating from a space of curiosity, with an intent to enhance the audiences’ knowledge)

Remember, the Scrum masters are accountable for the Scrum team’s effectiveness.

They do this by -

- Helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice within the Scrum team and the organization.

- Creating an environment where failure leads to improvement

- Enabling the Scrum Team to improve its practices within the Scrum framework.

- Providing them with the space and encouragement to grow and trusting them to get the work done.

Scrum masters are true leaders who serve the Scrum team and the larger organization.

Feeding a hungry man a fish first and then teaching him how to fish is what I believe works better.

Oh! And I also believe that we might have to teach the person swimming and rowing before we put him on a boat and leave him at the deep end.