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 by the team. Influencing without authority is a key aspect of any Leader such as Scrum Leader. Even without formal authority, a Scrum Master can influence the team in several ways:

The meaning of “Influencing without authority” is the ability to influence others without having any power or control or authority over them. Inorder to influence others without authority, one need not to be the CEO, investor, or even the most senior person in the team. 

Build Credibility and Trust: Having personal credibility in the area you work, building Trust within the team will enhance the possibility of influence without authority. 

Leave the Ego: For successful influencing without authority is to have high EQ and low Ego. Ego lets your thinking power goes down that will create personal conflicts. 

Servant Leadership: A Scrum Master serves as a facilitator and coach rather than a traditional manager. By embodying the principles of servant leadership, they can influence the team through guidance, support, and by fostering a culture of collaboration.

Coaching and Mentoring: The Scrum Master can provide coaching and mentoring to team members, helping them understand the principles and practices of Scrum. By empowering team members with knowledge and skills, they can influence the team’s behavior and performance.

Removing Impediments: One of the key responsibilities of a Scrum Master is to identify and remove impediments that hinder the team’s progress. By addressing obstacles and ensuring a smooth workflow, the Scrum Master can create an environment conducive to productivity and collaboration. Educating the Team members to resolve the impediments for which they have power, ability and knowledge so that they can be more self-managing. Scrum Master can focus on Organizational, Systemic and Global impediments.

Facilitating Skills: Having deeper facilitation skills such as facilitative listening skills and facilitative decision making skills to facilitate various meetings such as Sprint planning, daily scrum, sprint review, and retrospective events will help to make them more effective and productive. By ensuring these meetings are conducted effectively and efficiently, they can influence the team’s communication, coordination, and decision-making processes.

Leading by Example: Actions often speak louder than words. A Scrum Master can influence the team by leading by example, demonstrating the values and principles of Scrum in their own behavior and interactions with others.

Promoting Transparency: Transparency is a core principle of Scrum. By promoting transparency in all aspects of the project, including progress, challenges, and decisions, the Scrum Master can foster trust and accountability within the team.

Encouraging Continuous Improvement: Continuous improvement is another fundamental aspect of Scrum. The Scrum Master can encourage the team to reflect on their processes and practices regularly, identify areas for improvement, and implement changes to enhance their effectiveness.

Building a Collaborative Culture: Through effective communication, collaboration, and team-building activities, the Scrum Master can help create a culture where team members feel empowered to contribute their ideas, collaborate with one another, and take ownership of their work.

Sharing Knowledge: Sharing expertise, best practices, and insights during Scrum events such as Sprint Planning, Daily Scrums, Sprint Review, and Retrospectives can positively influence team members. Additionally, if the Scrum Master has any Domain and Technology experience (which is not mandatory but in case you have) you can give experiential suggestions in the Product Development that helps teams improve their effectiveness.

Effective Communication: Clear, direct and concise communication fosters collaboration and understanding within the team. By communicating effectively, through non judgemental and non criticizing ways, you can influence decision-making and encourage alignment towards common goals.

Active Participation: Actively participating in discussions, offering constructive feedback, and engaging in problem-solving activities can demonstrate leadership and influence the direction of the team’s efforts.

By leveraging these approaches, a Scrum Master can influence the team’s behavior, mindset, and performance even without formal authority, ultimately helping the team achieve its goals and deliver value to the customer.

For more insights about how a Scrum Master can improve their interpersonal skills and influential skills, you can join our “CSM online Training” and “A-CSM online Training” that helps you learn experiential and real-time scenarios based learning.