Scrum Masters and Leaders Have a Lot In Common

In a recent conversation with an executive leader, she shared a very interesting insight: “Leadership is a lot like being a glorified Scrum Master.” It may sound surprising to you at first, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense to me. Both Scrum Masters and traditional managers excel when they use servant leadership to focus on improving team dynamics and removing obstacles to the team's success.

A Scrum Master is More than the Process Police

There is a lot of misunderstanding about the Scrum Master accountability in Scrum. Some think that they are simply a project manager in disguise or that they are only responsible for facilitating the Scrum events. But a great Scrum Master is much more: they are a coach, a systems thinker, and a protector of team health. Their goal is to enable the team to function autonomously and deliver high-quality work. They do this by:

Now compare this with the role of a high-performing leader in a modern organization. The parallels are striking.

Removing Blockers: A Shared Mission

Great leaders don’t just set strategy and issue directives from afar—they roll up their sleeves and help teams execute. Like Scrum Masters, they are in the trenches removing obstacles, whether that means resolving interdepartmental conflicts, securing resources, or navigating political red tape. (Sometimes especially navigating political red tape.)

The executive I spoke with spends a significant part of her week addressing organizational impediments. Her calendar includes Sprint Reviews not just to observe progress, but to understand where friction exists—and to eliminate it.

Servant Leadership in Action

The best Scrum Masters are servant leaders. They don't dictate; they enable. They ask, “What does the team need to succeed, and how can I help?” This mindset is a cornerstone of transformational leadership as well.

Great leaders are not driven by control, but by purpose. They serve their teams by clearing the path ahead and facilitating growth opportunities. They also create the conditions for innovation to thrive.

Facilitating Alignment and Communication

Scrum Masters are essential communication hubs. They help ensure that Product Owners, Developers, and stakeholders stay aligned. They facilitate Sprint Planning, Reviews, and Retrospectives to maintain a shared understanding of goals and progress.

Likewise, leaders must orchestrate alignment across functions and teams. They often act as the connective tissue between strategy and execution. Great leaders, like Scrum Masters, are masters of cadence—they understand the importance of rituals, regular feedback, and communication to maintain team momentum.

Focusing on Team Health and Empowerment

Healthy teams deliver great results. Scrum Masters are attuned to morale, team dynamics, and workload sustainability. They coach teams toward self-management and resilience.

Leaders with a Scrum Master’s mindset are equally invested in culture and team wellbeing. They look beyond metrics and ask: Is the team fulfilled? Are we growing? Are we burning out? They lead not by command and control, but by cultivating trust, safety, and mutual respect.

Conclusion

Leadership in today’s complex, fast-moving world requires adaptability, humility, and empathy—the very traits embodied by excellent Scrum Masters. It’s no surprise that many Scrum Masters are slowly moving into transformational leadership roles.

So, the next time someone downplays the role of a Scrum Master as “just process facilitation,” remind them: the traits that make a Scrum Master exceptional are the same ones that define the best leaders. The purpose of good Leadership is enabling people to do their best work. And that’s exactly what Scrum Masters do every day.

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