What to focus on when joining a new Scrum team as a Scrum Master (ಠ.ಠ) | ScrumMastered.com
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- As a Scrum Master you should focus on the most important things right from the start, when you just join the new Agile team. Observe, listen and talk to your team members to understand the team history and build relationships.
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To the questions posted at end of the video:
Hello, I'm Troy. I'm your Scrum Master for this project. I'll be observing for the next couple of weeks, and will schedule 1:1 meetings to get to know all of you. During these 1:1, I'd love to hear your ideas, concerns and generally get to know you better. Once we've all met and I have everything from each of you, my role will be to see how we might improve as the workflow evolves. You'll each be a part of helping us improve along the way, this is a team effort. I look forward to getting to know each of you and being a part of our successful team.
Flipside:
Hi, I'm your Scrum Master. I'll be making sure that this team works to maximum efficiency, and will be changing things up a bit to that end.
Thanks man! I am staring my job as a scrum master and this is exactly what I will say in my introductions to team
First thing I would do, is bring donuts to the team! Usually the donuts would perk them up. I would do a short formal introduction.
I would not tell them that IM YOUR BOSS!
Im their coach and that I don't pass judgement to anyone. I am there to listen and support each of them.
Great video! If I may I would like to add that from day one start creating an element of psychological safety within your Scrum team(s). Also, if you're fortunate to be supporting an organization where you have access to other ScrumMasters, go seek them out and introduce yourself and start building a working relationship with them. They also may be in a position to provide you valuable insights into your new team(s) especially in a scaled Agile environment. Additionally, try your very best to resist the temptation to be an immediate agent of change. By keeping it real your team(s) will come to appreciate you and with time they will come to respect and trust you.
I want to read all of their retro notes to look for patterns. Additionally meet with team members 1 on 1 to try to get to know them, what's been working and not working.
Nice approach. Going to take note of this
How do you get access to the retro notes ?
@@cutflow2 this assumes there is some sort of record (like notes) from their previous retros. Not all teams may have this
@@scottc4christ are you currently a scrum master
I agree, stoicly "shutting up" in the beginning is a good approach 🙂. However, if a team has already tried some but "it didn't work for us" is no proof that thing wouldn't work later. The first thing I'd say would be to ask a round of introductions and maybe team's expectations of their SM.
Yes, something that didn't work previously might still work in the future when things change - like change in team composition, in technology used, in leadership, etc.
Starting with expectations is definitely a great way to go.
would like to understand on what were the different points that the team had bought up as their expectations any examples ??
Great info. Running a team climate survey helps as well.
Thank You! Starting up with 2 new scrum teams with a new client this week and I would have likely come in like a storm. This is great advice!
Wait so you're going to oversee two teams at the same time? How many members per team ?
@@cutflow2 both are very small teams. They are very new to this and are kind of a waterfall team trying to be Agile. They will get there and are making progress. One team of 3 is self sufficient. The other team 3 + 1 temp needs a great deal of help. I’ve been there for 3 iterations and they have a very difficult time with committing as they are also the Maintenance Support team and DBA. Not sure that this team works. When I came in they estimated 25% maintenance support when in fact it is about 90%. I’ve got my work cut out for me with these guys.
@@jewelsd1 appreciate your response. would you say that this is more work than usual for a scrum master. 2. Is it up to you to transition them from waterfall to agile as a scrum master ?
@@cutflow2 thank you for your interest. Comparing to previous projects these 2 small teams are very manageable. I mentioned above that one team is self managing and the other team has its challenges so this is where we are focusing on finding solutions. It is not my responsibility to make them transition from Waterfall to Agile. I simply try an coach them when I noticed that something could be done in a more Agile way.
@@jewelsd1 and when you say two teams, are you referring to the software developers as the only job roles in these two teams. I am trying to figure out who is struggling in the team. Just the engineers/developers or any additional roles as well
Thanks for sharing your experience in all your videos. I am going to begin my career as a Scrum Master in a few weeks and I had exactly the same kind of questions running on my mind for which your videos gave me the answers. Thank you once more and God bless you
I'm happy that the videos afre helpful. Thanks for watching.
Good luck in your new endeavor! And don't hesitate to ask questions - I'll be glad to help whenever I can
Nice video!
‘Your passion’ please is usually my first thing to ask..
Strategize on earning the team trust, and i get that done by listening, observing and asking questions to understand better the team dynamics . One thing i will never attempt to do is passing comments on what the team i mean their operations during my first one week of joining the team.
Agree a 100%. First week is for observation only, not trying to change everything they have established over the years/months of working together.
Thank you, this is very insightful and good advice. Observing and assessing the team to then create a plan on how to slowly implement changes absolutely works. Though, there's also the added personal pressure of, am I not moving fast enough in my new role in the first 3 weeks to prove I can do the job, though you're still learning the ropes
It took me a few years to really understand the role and feel like I'm truly successful. Even if you are an experienced Scrum Master, the results of your work will only show in 3-6 months. So it's a long way, requires a lot of patience
@@ScrumMastered you are right but would the Organisation have that much of patience with scrum master ?
@@ScrumMastered this is a good question by navneet
I would say. "Hello I'm B. I am here to be your new Scrum Master and that means I am here to help with anything you ask for." I would not say "Hi, You're doing Scrum so I am going to change that."
Great video for startup.
Glad it was helpful!
I luv this. It will come up interviews.
Your video is short and to the point.
Glad you liked it!
I’m curious if you’ve created content regarding difficult dynamics or strategies you’ve seen work best in different types of teams
I have some videos on creating trust in teams (ua-cam.com/video/TNHY1FeecuA/v-deo.html) and also on solving conflict (ua-cam.com/video/bB1LCX-oXbM/v-deo.html)
Here's my answer to your question-
#1. As a new Scrum Master for a new team, my first step would be to create a mini road map for myself on how to get to know about the team, their current processes, what the team's real challenges are and what they expect from me and each other as a team.
For this I would use the most powerful tool of all which is Communication. I will communicate in the way the team prefers and till I get my answers.
It can be a group discussion at times and at times one to one discussion, preferably to have on a regular basis.
#2. As a scrum master for a new team I would not create an impression which seems to the team that I am too casual or would cover up for their unprofessional-ism.
I really like your second point. It's so tempting to just be friends with your team, but you're right - first of all, you are all professionals. And good relationships come as a bonus.
@@ScrumMastered @Akhila Iyer
Need more light on the second point. What possible outcome may Team or the Scrum Master face when SM stands in a casual circle with the team? Can the professionalism be hampered if the SM is "easy to talk to, or too friendly" in the Scrum team?
My perspective may be in some other direction. Please share your thoughts.
Great tips thank you.
Great... thanks
Great information. Thanks
Great video. Thank you
Hello Daria, excellent video. Did have a question though regarding the ideas you presented here. How do we adapt them in today's working condition where almost every team member works remotely? It is not exactly possible to sit around and watch the team work and interact to understand the dynamics, neither are the chances of a handover happening from the previous scrum master. How does one focus on integrating with the team in such a scenario?
Hello Sumit,
Be more communicative, open multiple communication channels formal and informal
Create a buddy system so that each of the team members can have their own formally informal chat.
Gain the TRUST of the team by available to them, LISTEN to them, show empathy and do not share their information with other members of the team.
Have more one-2-one calls(video and audio).
Create more working agreements to achieve the goals, coach and mentor them whenever appropriate
Thanks for chiming in. I'd second the ideas shared above.
In terms of informal communication, make sure you actually create those channels. Whether it be virtual coffees / 1-on-1s with your team members, or just a few minutes taken in every meeting to talk about anything but work. You can also organize social virtual gatherings with your team. This will give you an opportunity to observe. Even if they are limited, they provide tremendous amount of valuable information for you as a Scrum Master.
Cool video I'm using this approach just now.. And I get really cool input
That's good to hear. What was the most useful approach in your case?
Great video
thank you
Great video!!!!
I Answered this way but interviewer is not convinced he wants more specific answer. The answer he wants is how was sprint commitment and Sprint Goal achieved in the past along with above please include this in your answer. this might help others.
Hi Pavan !
I am also sailing the same boat like you to crack interview, do u have prior experience other than Scrum. I agree to your suggestion
@@pavanisurya2365 , No i have worked on scrum and Kanban now the interviewers want you as package , like you should SCRUM,Kanban, Safe, CI and CD and Metrics at the sprint and Release level. you can contact on pavan.mamilla2015@gmail.com i can guide
I have just done my PSM certification, when I was browsing I came across your video and recalled liked and subscribed at first instance.
I would like to know if Jr. Scrum master roles exist ? I have no experience either in IT or in scrum. I worked in operations team for a bank . Would you suggest on my approach?
I think a Scrum Master, same as any other role, really, goes through stages of development. At first, you are still very new, don't know how to approach all situation, and need to work on soft skills. Gradually you grow in the role and become better and hence can achieve more valuable results not only for the team but for the whole organization.
One of the ways of getting into a Scrum Master role is to proactively find that department in your organization that is handing the Agile transformation, and discuss with them how you can be a part of it.
@@ScrumMastered Thank you
The video is very informative, I just started a job as a Scrum Master, responsible for multiple teams. I am meeting with the team leads soon, any advise on what my agenda should be?
Hello, thanks for watching. I think the best way to start is to just get to know the person you are talking to. Try to understand their role better, what their day usually looks like and what their biggest pain points are. At the same time it can be a great opportunity to talk about your role: what can they expect from you? Hope this helps
@@ScrumMastered Thanks, sure, what can they expect from me? it's biggie one to compose my first context to express at the first meeting...
Jane can I ask some questions about scrum interviews
Hello, the video is really good for a person like me as I have just started learning about Scrum Master. I have few queries to ask if that’s ok
1. Does the scrum master need to know the technical side
2. When the team says about any impediments, how do a scrum master solves that? For eg: server issues or stuck at some point of programming etc
3. How does one day of a scrum master looks like? Start the day with stand up meetings with team members and product owner ..and what happens after that?
It would be very helpful if you can help me with these.
Thanks
Glad to hear about the start of your Scrum Master journey. There are always so many questions at the beginning about how to go about playing this role, I hope that I can provide some insights.
1. I have a video on the channel about whether the Scrum Master has to be technical: ua-cam.com/video/HvqynKJRBqs/v-deo.html
I am not technical at all and it was never a problem for me.
2. The most important point is to figure out if an impediment is actually an impediment or is it just something that a team can solve on their own. E.g. the example of being stuck at some point of programming is not an impediment - it's for the team to figure out, they have full control over it. Since they are self-organizing, it's on them. I'll be posting a video on this topic soon, I think.
3. Also a great question. I actually have a few things that explain this on my website: Action Plan for Scrum Masters (scrummastered.com/action-plan-for-the-scrum-masters/) as well as free email course Scrum Master Action Week (scrummastered.com/scrum-master-action-week-course/) - they should give you a lot of insight into what you should be focusing on every day
ScrumMastered Thanks a lot for your help. I will certainly have a look at the links you have provided.
Do you have a video of good questions to ask the hiring managers. Especially questions that could dig more into what we, as a scrum master are going to get into and any other questions that identify the team, the whole workflow, what to expect, questions that will give predictions or what we are in store for 😉
I actually do not :) but it's a great idea for a video or a blog post. I have an article about how to write good Scrum Master joib descriptions that might be helpful in some way: scrummastered.com/blog/how-to-write-a-good-scrum-master-job-description/
@@ScrumMastered do you have a video or mention of a response to this question > Do you think it's a good idea to have one person performing both the Scrum Product Owner role and the Scrum Master role?
Hi Daria, I'm going to start my role as a Scrum Master in few weeks, i have an issue like most of time i speak invalid things, please help me. How to overcome this
@dailylifevlogs7045 what do you mean by speaking invalid things? I'm not sure I understood
Hi Daria,
I want to switch my career into Scrum and preparing for Scrum Master interview. Can you make series of videos on scenerio based questions to help people like me who are preparing for an interview.
Thank you..
That is a great idea. I do have a video about Scrum Master interviews, you should check it out: ua-cam.com/video/jgb1Oq6FZSM/v-deo.html
@@ScrumMastered Already seen. I am looking for some specific scenarios or you can say what scrum master will do from the point scrum team formed till product release. If you consider making your new video in this.
I am in the works of preparing a video "What does a Scrum Master do all day", so I hope it can be helpful. In the meantim, you should check my website as I have a free downloadable there called "Action Plan" that also goes over daily Scrum Master responsibilities.
Hi I am going to start my job as SM
This is my first role as a scrum master
Could you let me know how should I introduce my self to the team so that it look like I am experiences scrum master
I think the key here is openness and transparency - living the values from the very start. If you are still new to this, then talk to your team and let them know that your goal is to help them, but at the same time you ask for their help as well as you are still learning.
In the meantime, make sure to dedicate some of your time to bridge that gap and learn new things as you go.
Hi Nisha,
I am about to start as Scrum Master and just want to understand starting activities of scrum master, can you please help telling your basic experience you had.
Go for a coffee and chit chat :)
Nice presentation and seems very useful to me as i am new to this role.really appreciate your efforts on giving answers individually and i got some answers from above comments.
But this
question is actually out from the topic,that do we actually need some certifications for this role and please suggest names.thanks
I feel like I gotta make a video or write an article about that :) so many people ask me. Here is a short answer:
I don't believe having a certification is absolutely necessary. I worked with some awesome Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches who had no certifications at all. But having it can be helpful in getting shortlisted for a interview, for example, if you don't have your feet in the door just yet.
I you do decide to go for a certificate, check Scrum.org (Professional Scrum Master, PSM) and Scrum Alliance (Certified Scrum Master, CSM). These are two well recognized certification bodies. Of course, I'd recommend Scrum.org over Scrum Alliance - I'm a bit biased since I'm a Professional Scrum Trainer with Scrum.org
What's more important than just the certification, is your understanding of the framework and agility in general. You can either do a lot of self-study or attend a training to help you get started.
@@ScrumMastered Thanks for the quick detailed reply .
Very informative
What s the name of the team? Are the team scrum masters too... I’m new to this
What do you mean? It depends on your team - each team will have their own name.
@@ScrumMastered example do you have meetings with IT team if yes do you need to understand how IT works.
@@newkidsbeautydymond3988 most of Scrum implementations happen in software development, but it is starting to get used in other industries as well. I have a video talking about whether a Scrum Master needs to be technical that might answer your question: ua-cam.com/video/HvqynKJRBqs/v-deo.html
Hi i was wondering if you are still replying to videos, needed to ask a question.
Yes, still replying. What's your question?
@@ScrumMastered what advise would you give someone who is new to the scrum master role, and this is their first job in that position ? to me this video felt like it was tailored for people with prior experience in the role.
I'm not sure there's more general advice to give, unless we talk about your specific case.
The very first thing I talk about in the video is to observe the team and get to know how they work. No experience is needed at that point to get started.
As you observe, you'll learn more about your team needs and where they need help.
You goal is to help your team understand Scrum and implement it as it was intended. So if you see something that is not aligned with Scrum, that's where you can start making imporvements.
And if you're not sure what those areas are, then you should study up and then research what are some good practices that work for others.
@@ScrumMastered Thank you so much, this helps i was more so conflicted about this but ill watch more videos and try to foster an environment of positivity. your video covers all basis then thank you once again.
@@ScrumMastered I just started 2 days ago as Junior Scrum Master and I totally agree with your tips. Thank you! KR Darya.
MUTE the background music, its looks funny, as if in PUB
That's like my very first video ever 😂 making videos is a long learning curve
The first thing I would do as SM would be assessing everyones value, if there are some weak team members I would suggest getting rid of them asap to improve team productivity.
The one thing I wouldnt do when joining a new team would be coming across "easy to talk to, too friendly", you want to have a commanding presence and not give the impression of being someone easy to walk over.
That is an interesting approach. I never looked at it from this angle.
Scrum Master is a servant leader whose main purpose on the team is to promote and support Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide by helping everyone understand Scrum theory, practices, rules, and values.
How would the removal of team members (especially as the first step) help the Scrum Master to achieve their purpose? It seems it might go directly against Scrum values and principles (such as respect, trust, continuous improvement and self-organization).
Unless a team member continuously creates situations impeding team progress, maybe as a last resort, I might step in and suggest removal of a team member, if supported by the team. However, it is not my place to decide who stays and who goes.
It is very strange approach and definitely not a good start.. I am not sure how a scrum master can evaluate development team members abilities plus I am not sure if it's a SM responsibility at all. I remember a similar question from the test where the correct answer to a question about removing a team member was leave this decision for a development team and organization.
Then Scrum Master role is not for you period
That doesn't sound like a servant-leader
This approach is very intimidating for a scrum team, and it will definitely create a distraction for the rest of the team; maybe they'll be asking themselves, who's next with this new guy? Assessing everyone's skillset is not a bad idea, for that would allow you to determine who needs additional training/coaching or a development plan. My advice on team member poor performance: 1) Do your best to identify the root cause of the team member being performed poorly; that's very important, and start with a 1-on-1. 2) With the information obtained in your root cause analysis (5 whys should do it), try to put a coaching or development plan together to help him/her out; don't forget about at-home/personal issues. 3) As a team-based servant leader, you might want to show some empathy and support during the plan execution, and get him/her back on track as soon as possible. Now, if nothing works, you might need to check with the team and vote him/her off the island. (Ask yourself, did I do enough to help???)