Coaching, Mentoring, Facilitation, and Training – Differences
Coaching, mentoring, facilitation, and training are distinct approaches of guiding and developing individuals or teams, each with its specific focus and approach. Scrum Masters and Agile coaches should be familiar with these approaches and also should have clear understanding of the differences so that they can use the right approach that is suitable for the […]
How performance appraisals will be done in Scrum?
In Scrum, performance appraisal is generally handled differently than in traditional environments. Since Scrum is team-oriented and emphasizes collaboration, individual performance appraisals are often aligned with team objectives and contributions rather than individual metrics alone. Here’s how performance appraisal can be approached in Scrum: 1. Focus on Team Performance Collective Goals: Scrum emphasizes the success […]
How to handle people with “Will” issues in a Scrum Team?
Handling people with issues related to “will” can be challenging, as it often involves navigating complex emotional and psychological landscapes. Especially being a Scrum Master, without authority you have to motivate people and help them to change their behaviors. Here are some general steps and tips to address this effectively: 1. Understand the Underlying Causes […]
What defines a self-organizing and Cross-functional team in Agile and Scrum?
In Agile and Scrum, self-organizing and cross-functional teams are fundamental concepts that significantly contribute to the effectiveness and success of projects and products. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each: Self-Organizing Teams Definition: Self-organizing teams are empowered to make their own decisions about how to accomplish their work, without needing direct oversight from management. They take […]
How to influence without command and control?
Influencing people using power and authority is common and easy. It may work well in a hierarchy based team structure, but the results will be short term and temporary. However, in a team based work culture such as Scrum, there is no hierarchy within the team. So everyone is equal in a team and no […]
How to apply iterative and incremental approach for each PBI in a Sprint?
In the Traditional way of Software development, the work gets executed in sequential manner such that the programmer does the programming and hands it over to the tester for testing and so on. In Agile and Scrum, it is a different approach that introduces concurrent engineering. Teams work in overlapping mode to get the work […]
How to handle politics at workplace?
Whatever industry you are working in, politics are a common challenge nowadays. Especially in a team based environment such as Scrum, politics influence team’s relationship, trust, transparency and productivity negatively. As a Scrum Master, handling politics at the workplace can be challenging, but there are several strategies you can employ to navigate these situations effectively: […]
Essential Metrics to Measure Scrum Team Performance
Measuring Scrum team performance involves assessing various aspects to ensure the team is delivering value effectively, and consistently. Here are some key metrics commonly used to measure Scrum team performance. For each metric a brief explanation and a “Trend” that helps you understand how this metric will look like over a period of time. Velocity: […]
How to influence without Authority?
Scrum is a “Team” based work environment where all the team members will collaborate to create value to the customer by building adaptive solutions for complex problems. In Scrum, the role of authority is often distributed among team members rather than concentrated in one individual. Scrum relies on self-managing teams where decisions are made collaboratively […]
How to prepare for a Scrum Master interview?
Preparing for a Scrum Master interview involves a combination of understanding Agile and Scrum values & principles, demonstrating practical experience, and showcasing your soft skills. Here’s a guide to help you prepare well for your Scrum Master interview: 1. Agile Values and Principles: Agile Mindset: Emphasize your commitment to the agile mindset and continuous improvement. […]