Scrum Masters need to have technical skills, but they aren't the same skills that the Developers on their Scrum Teams need. Discover the benefits of a Scrum Master's technical toolkit.

In this live session of Ask a Professional Scrum Trainer, PST Ferzeen Anis based in Australia will be available to answer your burning questions about Scrum and the challenges you or your teams have.

An excellent Scrum Master ensures the team self-manages, improves continuously, and removes obstacles effectively, leading to better autonomy and reliable delivery of quality, valuable increments.

Learn about Laurens Bonnema's transformative journey in the Scrum world, from an unplanned start to becoming a successful Scrum Master and PST. His initial struggles and the lessons learned shaped his understanding and appreciation of the power of Scrum.

In this article, PST Stefan Wolpers shares the top ten most damaging Sprint Goal anti-patterns.

This article explores the concept of context-switching in modern work environments. It covers the significance of measuring context switches through self-reporting and digital tracking, and introduces tactics like setting focused Sprint Goals in Scrum, analyzing context switch data during retrospect...

It is important for Scrum practitioners to understand that there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about Scrum that they should be wary of when they are applying Scrum to their unique environment. In this article, we will debunk four common Scrum myths.

Many teams who have adopted Scrum adopt practices which are intended to be ‘helpful’ but which actually hinder teams from delivering value.  These practices sound like a good idea, but they are actually ‘traps’ which may hold back organizations from getting the most out of the Scrum framework.

Team effectiveness suffers when teams are too large. In this video, PST's Jason Malmstadt, Robert Pieper, and Gregory Crown explain how to make adjustments to fix this problem.

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, host Dave West is joined by Douglas Ferguson from Voltage Control to talk about facilitation and the importance of effective facilitation. (27:44 Minutes)

Is there a clear line between a Scrum Master and a Product Owner on a Scrum Team? Is it okay for one person to be both? PST's Jason Malmstadt, Robb Pieper, and Greg Crown have some ideas to share about one person or two people taking on the accountability of Scrum Master and Product Owner.

Are you a part of a Scrum Team looking to enhance your collaboration and communication dynamics? Join this webinar with PST Simon Flossmann and professional coach Christian Hoftstetter as they delve into the secrets of successful Scrum Teams that excel in conflict resolution and foster healthy relat...

In this article, PST Stefan Wolpers explores what practices and tools for collaboration and team building are not helpful when used with Scrum.

A self-managing team is a fundamental part of effectivity. How can this happen during your Daily Scrum? Check it out!

Teams solving complex problems need creativity to figure out how to deliver value.  Traditional “command and control’ techniques are less impactful in this environment and can even harm the team’s ability to deliver value. 

In this video, Martin 🎥 breaks down the common misconceptions about Scrum Masters. He sheds light on the actual role and responsibilities, challenging the popular myths with practical insights. Discover the true essence of being a Scrum Master and how it impacts team dynamics. 🚀🤔

The Scrum Master is the “Scrum Police.” They enforce Scrum rules.Why is this a myth? There are very few “Scrum rules.” Scrum is designed to be a framework for helping teams execute complex work. When Scrum Masters guide teams in understanding the principles of Scrum and purpose of its elements, the ...

Scrum Masters support their colleagues in many different ways. The Scrum Guide outlines some of the service that Scrum Masters provide to others:The Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team in several ways, including:Coaching the team members in self-management and cross-functionality;Helping the Scrum Te...

A Scrum Master is the member of the Scrum Team that is accountable for the Scrum Team’s effectiveness and for establishing Scrum as it is defined in the Scrum Guide.They help the team improve their practices and effectiveness primarily by advancing the adoption of Scrum among individuals, teams and ...

The following resources provide more commentary on characteristics and skills necessary to be a Scrum Master: Search all Resources About Scrum Masters

Scrum has become quite popular in software development. Over the years, Scrum has become popular in many environments. But can you really use Scrum in non-technical work? In this Lightning Round, Professional Scrum Trainers Jason Malmstadt, Robb Pieper, and Greg Crown have some ideas to share about ...

In a significant shift from their previous stance, Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller, hosts of "Your Daily Scrum," now advocate for integrating the role of Scrum Master with delivery managers and directors, countering their earlier advice to avoid this practice.

Does it make sense to have a project manager and a Scrum Master on your Scrum Team? Can they be the same person? What would happen if you have both on your Scrum Team? How is delivery on a Scrum Team handled if you don’t have a project manager? PST's Jason Malmstadt, Robb Pieper, and Greg Crown have...

Some quick thoughts on Managers taking on the Scrum Master accountability.

If you don’t have direct authority over your Scrum Team, is it possible to lead them anyway? What does “Leadership” in the context of a Scrum Team? In this video, PST's Jason Malmstadt, Robb Pieper, and Greg Crown discuss leadership, management, and how to navigate them both as a Scrum Master.

In this video, Martin 🎥 unravels the intricate role of a Scrum Master in facilitating team dynamics and ensuring effective decision-making within the Agile framework. 🗝️📈

We all make mistakes in life and there are many mistakes Scrum Masters make when new in their role. What are they and what can be done about it? PST's Jason Malmstadt, Robb Pieper, and Greg Crown have some ideas to share about common Scrum Master mistakes in this Scrum Lightning Round.

This case study highlights how a guided immersive learning experience works and how it benefits practitioners.

When we uncover the truth, we arm ourselves with valuable insights, and that's truly empowering. In this article, we will dispel 3 Scrum myths.

Many organizations are striving to become more adaptive a means not just to survive, but to thrive.  The success of an adaptive organization hinges significantly on the capabilities of its people, which often raises the question of how to select people for agile teams.

Scrum Masters are often skilled facilitators, and use that skill to help their Scrum teams make decisions and conduct discussions an a positive, productive manner. But does that mean all the facilitation belongs to the Scrum Master? Can others step in as facilitators? And if so, how does a Scrum Mas...

In this video, Martin tackles the oft-misunderstood concept of Sprint Goals within the Scrum framework. 🎯 With a wealth of experience and a dash of Scottish grit, I guide you through setting Sprint Goals that are not just achievable but also meaningful and aligned with your project's needs.

If you or your team are new to Scrum, you can use this as a starting point to answer, “what should we be doing and why?” for each Scrum Event. If your team is more experienced but you feel like you’re drifting away from healthy behaviors and patterns and you’re not sure how to course correct - you c...

Scrum Teams often take the items of their Product Backlog and divide them into smaller tasks to help them better understand and keep track of their work. But how long should those tasks be? A few hours? A day? A few days? Are week-long tasks ok? What’s the rule of thumb when it comes to tasks for th...

In this article, we delve into common anti-patterns at the Scrum Team level: from planning and process breakdown to conflict avoidance and miscommunication to inattention to quality and commitment.

How can you help increase engagement in your team — or can you? Is engagement something you can support, influence, or force? PST's Gregory Crown, Jason Malmstadt, and Robert Pieper tackle this frequently-asked question in today’s Scrum Lightning Round.

Whether it’s questioning assumptions, coaching in agility, or helping to resolve impediments, effective Scrum Masters drive change. But far too often, Scrum Masters are so focused on change at the team level, that the broader changes required at the organization level go unsupported. How can a Scrum...

In this video, Martin delves deep into the challenges of working with a new Scrum Team, emphasising the importance of understanding the core principles over mere mechanics. 🛠️🔄

How do experts and specialists who are used to working alone fit on a Scrum Team? What should be considered with getting started with a new Scrum Team? In this video, Professional Scrum Trainers Greg Crown and Robb Pieper address these questions about the “lone wolf” developer that may just not want...

Scrum Values make the use of Scrum successful. How can these values bring more Transparency to your Increment? Check it out!

Have you ever joined an organization as a Scrum Master, Coach or Trainer with a smile on your face, good intentions in your mind and love in your heart, only to be received with inexplicable levels of hostility, contempt and aggression? Were you surprised about what was happening to you, why and wha...

The Scrum Team is a small unit of professionals focused on attaining the Product Goal. Scrum Teams consist of a Product Owner, Scrum Master and Developers. Each has a clear set of accountabilities. Learn more about the Scrum Team, accountabilities, responsibilities and why these aren’t called “roles.”

The Scrum framework describes Scrum Master, Product Owner and Developers as “accountabilities” and not “roles.” This puts emphasis on the fact that Scrum Teams are results-oriented, with clear accountabilities among team members, rather than an organizational construct. Product Owner, Scrum Maste...

An experiment that encourages teams to select their own metrics

In this live session of the Ask a Professional Scrum Trainer webcast, PSTs Todd Miller and Ryan Ripley will answer your burning questions on the topic of Product Backlog Management. (58:17 Minutes)

Patricia Kong joins as guest host with guests Professional Scrum Trainer Ravi Verma and Agile for Patriots graduates Brittny Snyder, Chris Cole and Jeremy Thomas to talk about their journey through the Agile for Patriots program and using the Nexus framework. (31:10 Minutes)

Or is it a sacrilege to tweak the ‘immutable’ framework to accommodate our teams’ and organizations’ needs?

Here is a remote-friendly exercise that has helped dozens of my teams find and implement tangible, actionable ideas to stop starting and start finishing. The exercise is quick, doesn’t need much preparation, and lets participants experience the downsides of multitasking very directly on a physical l...

In this episode of the Scrum.org Community Podcast, Dave West is joined by Marjolein Pilon, a Scrum Master based in the Netherlands to talk about the very important topic of Climate Change. (25:43 Minutes)

In this video, Joanna explores the intriguing parallels between the world of mushroom foraging and agility. From choosing the right environment to the importance of patience and focus, we uncover how these seemingly disparate activities share core principles.