Transition from Project Manager to Scrum Master

Any project manager can learn to be a great scrum master. In addition to overcoming their need to control, PMs need to change their mindset. Learn more.

Being a Great Scrum Master can be Learned

In my related post, I argued that most Project Managers make lousy Scrum Masters. It’s not on purpose, it just happens that the skills that make them great project managers actually hinder them from being great Scrum Masters. However, I believe that any project manager can learn to be a great Scrum Master.

I’m a big fan of Carol Dweck’s Mindset book and the idea of the growth mindset. Dweck contends that everything can be learned. I agree, and I believe that anyone can the soft skills needed to be a great scrum master. I think in addition to overcoming their need to control, project managers need to change their mindset or worldview. The following table shows some of the shifts in thinking that will be needed to be a great scrum master:

Project Manager Thinking vs. Scrum Master Thinking