The Stoic Scrum Master

TL; DR: The Stoic Scrum Master – Making Your Scrum Work (30)

Can wisdom from the past still be relevant to today’s VUCA-determined world? I started reading Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations some time ago and found it intriguing; maybe it applies to “Agile?” In other words: is there something like a Stoic Scrum Master?

If I understand Stoicism correctly, it is about living a life of virtue, which comprises wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation. (All of those can be further subdivided, see Stoic Ethics.) For whatever reason, I felt reminded of Scrum Values and thought: could it be that the first principles of “agile” haven’t been defined by the Agile Manifesto but by “Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BCE?”

So, I embarked on a fun exercise of asking our beloved LLM to create an essay that applies Stoicism to Scrum, notably the Stoic Scrum Master.

🇩🇪 Zur deutschsprachigen Version des Artikels: Der Stoische Scrum Master – Making Your Scrum Work #30

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Setting up the Session

I ran the session on Sunday, March 12, from 6:30 am CET to 7:45 am CET on the ChatGPT Feb 13 version.

I did not apply Grammarly to ChatGPT’s answers.

The Initial ChatGPT Prompt to Explore the Stoic Scrum Master

I used the following initial prompt to prime ChatGPT:

• I want you to act as an experienced Scrum Master. Also, you are well-versed in philosophy, particularly in ancient Stoicism.
• I want you to write an essay on how the essentials of Stoicism apply to Scrum in general and your role as a Scrum Master in particular.

ChatGPT:

As a Scrum Master, I find that the principles of Stoicism are highly relevant to the practice of Scrum. Stoicism is an ancient philosophy that teaches individuals to live a life of virtue, wisdom, and self-control. The core tenets of Stoicism, such as focusing on what is within our control and accepting the present moment, can be applied to the principles of Scrum to create a more productive and effective team.

One of the key tenets of Stoicism is the concept of focusing on what is within our control. In Scrum, this means focusing on the tasks and goals that the team can achieve in the current sprint, rather than worrying about external factors that are beyond our control. As a Scrum Master, I help my team to stay focused on their tasks and goals by creating a productive and supportive environment that encourages collaboration and communication. By emphasizing what is within our control, we can achieve greater productivity and success.

Another important principle of Stoicism is the idea of accepting the present moment. In Scrum, this means accepting the current state of the project and working with the team to find ways to improve it. As a Scrum Master, I help my team to stay focused on the present moment by conducting regular retrospectives and encouraging them to embrace change and experimentation. By accepting the present moment, we can work together to find creative solutions to problems and achieve our goals more effectively.

Stoicism also emphasizes the importance of wisdom and self-control. In Scrum, this means encouraging team members to take responsibility for their own actions and to work collaboratively to achieve the team’s goals. As a Scrum Master, I help my team to develop wisdom and self-control by fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. By promoting personal responsibility and self-discipline, we can achieve greater productivity and success as a team.

Finally, Stoicism emphasizes the importance of living a life of virtue. In Scrum, this means striving for excellence in everything we do and maintaining a high standard of quality in our work. As a Scrum Master, I help my team to live a life of virtue by encouraging them to set high standards for themselves and by providing them with the support and resources they need to achieve those standards. By focusing on excellence and quality, we can deliver the best possible results for our clients and stakeholders.

In conclusion, the principles of Stoicism are highly relevant to the practice of Scrum and can help us to create a more productive and effective team. As a Scrum Master, I strive to embody these principles by focusing on what is within our control, accepting the present moment, fostering wisdom and self-control, and promoting a culture of excellence and virtue. By embracing these principles, we can achieve greater success and satisfaction in our work and in our lives.

Comment: We are off to a good start regarding the Stoic Scrum Master. However, I would like to see more emphasis on aligning core Scrum concepts like self-management with Stoicism.

Cannot see the form? Please click here.

Prompt 2:

Can you regenerate the answer with a stronger focus on matching core Scrum principles such as Scrum Values, Definition of Done, self-management, and servant leadership with authority with Stoicism’s core principles?

ChatGPT:

Certainly! As a Scrum Master, I find that the principles of Stoicism align closely with the core principles of Scrum, including Scrum Values, the Definition of Done, self-management, and servant leadership.

First, let’s consider the Scrum Values: commitment, focus, openness, respect, and courage. These values align with Stoicism’s emphasis on self-control, wisdom, and virtue. By practicing self-control and committing to our tasks, we can achieve greater focus and productivity. By being open and respectful to our team members, we can foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. And by having the courage to embrace change and take risks, we can achieve our goals more effectively.

Second, the Definition of Done is a core principle of Scrum that emphasizes the importance of delivering high-quality work. This aligns with Stoicism’s emphasis on living a life of virtue and excellence. As a Scrum Master, I help my team to embrace this principle by setting high standards for themselves and working collaboratively to achieve those standards. By striving for excellence in everything we do, we can deliver the best possible results for our clients and stakeholders.

Third, self-management is a key aspect of Scrum that emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and accountability. This aligns with Stoicism’s emphasis on personal responsibility and self-discipline. As a Scrum Master, I help my team to develop self-management skills by fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. By taking responsibility for their own actions and working collaboratively to achieve the team’s goals, we can achieve greater productivity and success.

Finally, servant leadership is a core principle of Scrum that emphasizes the importance of putting the needs of the team first. This aligns with Stoicism’s emphasis on living a life of virtue and serving others. As a Scrum Master, I strive to embody this principle by putting the needs of my team first and providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed. By serving as a mentor and facilitator, rather than an authoritarian figure, I can help my team to achieve their goals more effectively.

In conclusion, the principles of Stoicism align closely with the core principles of Scrum, including Scrum Values, the Definition of Done, self-management, and servant leadership. By embracing these principles, we can create a more productive and effective team that is focused on delivering high-quality work and serving the needs of our clients and stakeholders. As a Scrum Master, I strive to embody these principles in my work and to help my team to do the same.

Comment: ChatGPT managed the task of aligning core Scrum principles with Stoicism well. However, one answer bothers me: The emphasis on focusing on what is within the Scrum team’s control. So let’s dig a bit deeper here.

The Stoic Scrum Master — Prompt 3:

As a Scrum Master, your task is to address impediments that prevent the Scrum team from accomplishing its goals. Isn’t that conflicting with focusing on what is within our control?

ChatGPT:

As a Scrum Master, my role is to help the team identify and remove impediments that are within their control. However, there may be some impediments that are outside of the team’s control, such as changes in market conditions or organizational policies.

In these situations, the Stoic principle of focusing on what is within our control and accepting what is not can be helpful. Rather than becoming frustrated or disheartened by external factors, we can focus on the things that are within our control, such as our own actions and attitudes.

For example, if the team is experiencing delays due to a change in market conditions, we can focus on what the team can do to adapt to these changes, such as revising the backlog or reprioritizing work. We can also encourage the team to adopt a growth mindset and view challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement.

At the same time, we should also acknowledge that there may be some impediments that are outside of the team’s control, and we should work with stakeholders to address these issues as much as possible. By focusing on what is within our control and accepting what is not, we can maintain a positive and proactive mindset that helps us to achieve our goals despite obstacles.

In summary, as a Scrum Master, my role is to help the team identify and remove impediments that are within their control, while also adopting a Stoic mindset that focuses on what is within our control and accepts what is not. By approaching our work with this mindset, we can maintain a sense of purpose and control, even in the face of external challenges.

Comment: ChatGPT provides plausible yet evasive answers, bordering on a hallucination. We will need a more specific prompt.

Prompt 4:

Suppose the Stoic Scrum Master is not challenging the status quo but accepting it even when there is a chance of overcoming an impediment outside the Scrum team’s control. Is the Scrum Master still supporting their team as a Scrum Master?

ChatGPT:

No, a Scrum Master who is not willing to challenge the status quo and take action to address impediments, even those outside of the Scrum team’s control, is not effectively supporting their team as a Scrum Master.

While the Stoic principle of accepting what is outside of our control is important, it should not be used as an excuse for inaction or complacency. As a Scrum Master, it is our responsibility to advocate for the team and to work with stakeholders to address any impediments that are preventing the team from achieving its goals.

This may involve challenging the status quo or advocating for changes to organizational policies or processes. However, it is important to do so in a constructive and collaborative way, focusing on finding solutions that benefit both the team and the organization as a whole.

In summary, while the Stoic principle of accepting what is outside of our control is important, it should not be used as an excuse for inaction or complacency. As a Scrum Master, it is our responsibility to advocate for the team and work with stakeholders to address any impediments that are preventing the team from achieving its goals, even if this involves challenging the status quo or advocating for change.

Comment: Reluctantly, we are moving in the right direction.

Conclusion

There seems to be something like a Stoic Scrum Master. Maybe, our perception that we today represent the height of civilization is not completely warranted; what if it is only another manifestation of confirmation bias in our echo chamber?

What is your opinion? Please share it with us in the comments.

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