When the Scrum Master Fails by Being Overly Protective — Making Your Scrum Work #13

TL; DR: When Scrum Masters Fail — Making Your Scrum Work #13

There are plenty of failure possibilities with Scrum. Given that Scrum is a framework with a reasonable yet short “manual,” this effect should not surprise anyone. Scrum thrives when the Scrum teams are self-managing while Scrum Masters embrace their role as servant-leaders. However, this also implies that Scrum Masters fail when they are overly protective.

📺 Join me and explore the consequences of the overly protective Scrum Master and what you can do about it in less than three minutes.

When the Scrum Master Fails by Being Overly Protective  — Making Your Scrum Work #13 — Age-of-Product.com

Update: I am running a poll on LinkedIn—join the voting: “How can Scrum Masters fail their team by being overly protective or supportive?”

Continue reading When the Scrum Master Fails by Being Overly Protective — Making Your Scrum Work #13

The Frustrated Scrum Master — When all the Effort Leads Nowhere

TL; DR: The Frustrated Scrum Master — When all the Effort Leads Nowhere

There are plenty of failure possibilities with Scrum. Given that Scrum is a framework with a reasonable yet short “manual,” this effect should not surprise anyone. One failure symptom of a botched agile transformation is the frustrated Scrum Master.

📺 Join me and explore the consequences of a Scrum Master who has thrown in the towel in 92 seconds.

The Frustrated Scrum Master — When all the Effort Leads Nowhere — Age-of-Product.com
Continue reading The Frustrated Scrum Master — When all the Effort Leads Nowhere

Three Wide-Spread Scrum Master Failures in 5:31 Minutes—Making Your Scrum Work #1

TL; DR: Three Wide-Spread Scrum Master Failures

There are plenty of Scrum Masters failures. Given that Scrum is a framework with a precise and concise yet short “manual,” this effect should not surprise anyone.

Explore with me three widespread examples of how Scrum Masters fail their team in three short video clips, totaling 5 minutes and 31 seconds.

Three Wide-Spread Scrum Master Failures in 5:31 Minutes — Making Your Scrum Work — Age-of-Product.com
Continue reading Three Wide-Spread Scrum Master Failures in 5:31 Minutes—Making Your Scrum Work #1

Scrum Master Interview Questions (4): From Agile Metrics to Scrum Kick-off to Scrum Anti-Patterns

TL; DR: Scrum Master Interview Questions (4)

Some time ago, someone on Reddit asked whether there would be any other profession that requires attending a 2-day training class and would then pay as well as a Scrum Master job. This attitude is precisely why the 47 Scrum Master Interview Guide exists: Prevent imposters from slipping through the hiring process and causing damage.

If you are looking to fill a position for a Scrum Master (or agile coach) in your organization, you may find the following 47 interview questions useful to identify the right candidate. They are derived from my fourteen years of practical experience with XP as well as Scrum, serving both as Product Owner and Scrum Master as well as interviewing dozens of Scrum Master candidates on behalf of my clients.

So far, this Scrum Master interview guide has been downloaded more than 19,000 times.

Scrum Master Interview Questions (4): From Agile Metrics to Scrum Kick-off to Scrum Anti-Patterns — Age-of-Product.com
Continue reading Scrum Master Interview Questions (4): From Agile Metrics to Scrum Kick-off to Scrum Anti-Patterns

Scrum Master Anti Patterns: Beware of Becoming a Scrum Mom (or Scrum Pop)

TL; DR: Beware of Becoming a Scrum Mom (or Scrum Pop)

Trying to be supportive and do good, is most of the time an honorable thing. This is particularly true in your capacity as a Scrum master. However, doing too much good can quickly have the opposite effect. It’s a known Scrum anti-pattern, often referred to as the Scrum mom syndrome.

Read on to learn more about its manifestations, and the damage to your team caused by being overly protective.

Age of Product: Scrum Master Anti Patterns: Beware of Becoming a Scrum Mom

Disclaimer: Of course, this post is in no way intended to be gender-specific. In my experience, there is no difference between the Scrum pop and the Scrum mom. This post is all about the emerging trend of Scrum helicopter parenting.

Continue reading Scrum Master Anti Patterns: Beware of Becoming a Scrum Mom (or Scrum Pop)