Welcome to your new role: A Guide for New Scrum Masters in Scaled Agile Environments
By Ron Smith SPC
This article provides insights and guidance for new Scrum Masters entering a scaled scrum or SAFe environment, covering topics such as role and responsibilities, transitioning to the role, training and certification, understanding the SAFe framework, agile project management, facilitation and team collaboration, challenges and expectations, and navigating scrum events.
The New Scrum Master: Navigating the Scaled Scrum or SAFe Environment
Congratulations on your new role as a Scrum
Master! Stepping into this position marks an exciting and challenging
transition, especially in a scaled scrum or SAFe environment. As you embark on
this journey, it's crucial to have a clear understanding of the primary
responsibilities of a Scrum Master in this context.
In a scaled scrum or SAFe environment,
a Scrum Master is tasked with coaching, facilitating, and leading the team (or teams). For
both mature and new teams (see THIS article on navigating the particular
challenges managing each type HERE), this involves guiding the team through the
adoption and execution of Agile practices, ensuring adherence to the scrum
framework principles, and fostering effective collaboration among team members.
For example, a Scrum Master may facilitate daily stand-up meetings to keep the
team aligned and focused on the sprint goals. They also play a key role in
removing any impediments that hinder the team's progress, thereby enabling a
smoother workflow and enhanced productivity. You will be expected to master
these two talents pretty quickly as a Scrum Master. Being familiar with all
expected events, as well as developing the relationships with your team(s), customers,
and leadership (your stakeholders) will be the key to your success. (more about
developing these skills in a future article!)
What to expect from the business on
your first day, during your first month, and as you engage in your first PI or
quarterly planning is also an essential aspect of your new role. During the
first 8 weeks or 4 sprints, you should focus on fostering effective team
collaboration and ensuring the smooth execution of the scrum framework
principles as mentioned. This may involve establishing strong communication
channels among team members, actively listening to their feedback, and
addressing any issues that may arise during the sprint cycles. By setting clear
expectations and actively engaging with the business and the team, new Scrum
Masters can lay a solid foundation for their leadership and support functions.
In my personal experience as a
contractor who continuously moves from team to team and business to business, I
have successfully approached each new position in the following way:
1.
Realize
immediately each business, team and environment is different. But Agile principles
remain unchanged. Determine any governance, agile structure, teams current “ways
of working” and company expectations for you and your team right away.
2.
Set up
one-on-one conversations with each team member and key player. During these
meetings, one thing remains constant. Listening with intent. Have your
questions prepared beforehand but let the other person guide you. The idea is
to understand while setting expectations and developing personal connections.
That approach is very effective to determine individual drives and issues that
may become bottlenecks or impediments down the road. I will have another
article soon on the psychology of the “one-on-one” and some of the key
questions to ask that develop trust and understanding.
3.
Take a
couple of sprints to just watch how the team works. Don’t look to change things
too quickly. Realize that some of the ways a team currently works may not need
intervention. Concentrate on creating a roadmap to long-term improvement. This
is not a showcase for your knowledge and skills. It is a position of a team
player and “leader that serves” (note that that is a recent official change to
the “Scrum Guide.”)
4.
Take
part in the team’s first planning session. Whether that be team, business or
train level, see how your team plans, understands and sets goals. This can be
incredibly different and varies from business to business and team to team. How
can you see the team “leaning out?” How can you facilitate better
understanding? Are there questions you consistently see being asked? Keep the
answers handy by creating cards or notes that can be applied to your Kanban
board. The team members may have great insight into these questions and there
may be ways to address them incrementally during the upcoming sprints.
5.
That
brings me to “build a personal Kanban board.” I like to create a board for
personal improvement and include my approach to team development and process
improvement. I place these items into sprints that align to the business.
Sometimes, if possible, I create an “improvement or assessment epic” on my team’s
board to track progress and measurable actions. Go and do that now and get in
the habit of updating and prioritizing your own personal Kaizen
board!
6.
Finally,
I set my sites on 7 things:
a. Understanding the business vision and goals.
b. Solidifying expectations.
c. Scheduling all events and making sure only the people
that need to attend are on the invitation list to avoid exploding timeboxes.
d. Understanding the product/project/features the team is
working on and the high level. As a new Scrum Master you will likely be asked
for updates on the work being done. Best you know at least general details and
the current state of affairs of your team’s work.
e. Plan improvements and being flexible as to how and when
they are implemented.
f. Continuing to develop trust and build personal
relationships with stakeholders.
g. Assess and continue learning – about your team, about
the business, about your role and about Agile.
Transitioning to the Role of Scrum Master
Transitioning to the role of a Scrum
Master from a background as a project manager or business analyst can bring
about unique challenges and opportunities. For individuals making this shift,
it's important to recognize that the responsibilities and dynamics of the new
role may differ significantly from their previous positions.
Addressing the expectations and
potential hurdles faced by new Scrum Masters when working with a new team or mature
scrum teams will be crucial for a successful transition. For instance,
individuals transitioning from a project manager role may need to adapt to a
more facilitative and servant leadership approach, focusing on enabling the
team's self-organization and decision-making processes.
Understanding these challenges will
help you prepare and navigate the initial stages of your new role effectively,
fostering a smoother transition and integration within the organization.
Micro-managing goes against all Agile principles. Project managers generally
have the urge to manage every detail of a project and concentrate on knowing
all details before starting work. Let’s be honest. That can be a big issue
delivering iteratively and can lead to “Wagile” failures. Newly transitioned Project
Managers will need to adjust their mindset a bit and trust the team, while at
the same time managing business expectations. Micro-managing creates tension.
Tension creates mistrust. Mistrust directly leads to failure to meet
expectations.
I find that Business Analysts to be
the perfect transition to Product Owner. But we are discussing the role of Scrum
Master. As a BA, you are in the unique position of understanding the value and
priority of each part of your team’s product or project. You will have to
adjust to more of a teaching role if you will. Your Product Owner is responsible
in almost every situation for managing the backlog and making sure what needs
to get done first is in front of the team. They are responsible for creating
the user stories (although they can assign these responsibilities to another
team member) and understanding everything you probably do now. This transition can
sometimes be difficult – but it’s not nearly impossible! Coach them to work as
a team to make it all happen. And be the BA during planning and refinement when
needed.
Scrum Master Training and Certification
As a new Scrum Master, it's important to evaluate and assess your level of understanding of Scrum, SAFe (if applicable), and Agile in general. Exploring the available training and certification options, such as Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Professional Scrum Master (PSM) or SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) certifications, will be beneficial for your professional development. These certifications can open up increased job opportunities and potentially higher earning potential, making them valuable investments in your career. For example, obtaining a CSM or PSM certification not only validates your knowledge and skills but also demonstrates your commitment to continuous learning and improvement, which are highly valued (dare I say the highest valued) traits in a Scrum Master role. Acquiring such certifications can provide access to a community of experienced practitioners and mentors, offering valuable guidance and support as you navigate your new role.
Understanding the Scaled Agile
Framework (SAFe) Environment
Delving into the key principles and
configurations of the SAFe Scrum framework will provide insights into its
application across multiple teams and the specific differences and additional
responsibilities of a Scrum Master in a SAFe environment compared to
traditional scrum settings.
For instance, in a SAFe environment, Scrum
Masters are expected to collaborate closely with Release Train Engineers (RTEs)
to facilitate Program Increment (PI) planning and execution, ensuring alignment
and coordination across multiple Agile teams within the ART (Agile Release
Train). Understanding these nuances will help you effectively adapt to the
requirements of your new role, enabling you to support the organization's Agile
transformation and the successful delivery of value to customers.
Interested in learning more about SAFe
or Agile beyond Scrum? There are endless sources online or I can help as an SCP
and SAFe trainer. I can highly recommend at least learning about SAFe and the
connection between Agile delivery and the hierarchy of the organization. Many
organizations today are SAFe or “SAFe-ish” and are looking specifically for
individuals with that understanding.
Agile Project Management in the SAFe Environment
In a SAFe environment, the application
of Agile approaches and principles is paramount in effectively managing complex
projects. As a Scrum Master, supporting the RTE in PI planning and program execution
will be a key aspect of your role. This may involve coordinating with other Scrum
Masters and team members to ensure that the objectives and dependencies of
different teams are effectively addressed during the planning and execution
phases.
Aligning with Agile values and
principles, such as customer collaboration, responding to change, and
delivering working solutions, will be essential for driving continuous
improvement and innovation within the organization. By embracing these Agile
principles, Scrum Masters can contribute to the overall success of the SAFe
environment and the achievement of strategic business objectives.
Tips for Effective Facilitation and Team Collaboration
Being a successful Scrum Master in a
SAFe, or really any Agile environment means mastering several practical skills.
Here are some tips to guide you:
- Promote Open Communication: Encourage team members to openly share their
ideas, concerns, and feedback. Regularly hold open forums or
retrospectives where everyone feels safe to speak their minds.
- Build Trust through Transparency: Make all aspects of the project as visible as
possible. Use tools like JIRA boards to track progress and share updates
regularly, ensuring that the team and stakeholders are always informed.
- Practice Active Listening: During discussions, give your full attention to
the speaker, acknowledge their points, and respond thoughtfully.
Understanding before being understood helps in building stronger
relationships.
- Facilitate Effective Decision-Making: Guide your team through structured
decision-making processes. Encourage collaborative problem-solving and
ensure all voices are heard.
- Cultivate Patience and Flexibility: Projects often face unexpected changes. Be
patient and adaptable, helping your team navigate through changes without
losing focus on the end goal.
- Empower Team Members: Encourage ownership and accountability by
allowing the team to take charge of their tasks and decisions. Empower
them to find solutions and innovate.
- Foster Continuous Learning: Promote a culture of learning and improvement.
Encourage team members to seek out training, attend workshops, and share
their learnings with the team.
- Demonstrate Empathy: Understand the individual needs and
circumstances of your team members. A supportive leader can significantly
boost morale and productivity.
- “Don’t” Lead by Example: Leading by example ends up having a team that
may just depend on your actions rather than doing it themselves. Model
ideal behavior and hold your team accountable to do the same and they will
begin to hold each other, and you as a Scrum Master and team leader
accountable. Embody the Agile and SAFe principles in your actions. Your
commitment to these values inspires the team to follow suit.
- Engage with Stakeholders: Regularly communicate with stakeholders to
understand their needs and expectations, ensuring the team's work aligns
with organizational goals.
By incorporating these tips into your
daily routine, you'll not only enhance your effectiveness as a Scrum Master but
also create a more productive, collaborative, and motivated team.
Challenges and Expectations for New Scrum Masters
Identifying and addressing the
specific challenges and expectations that new Scrum Masters may encounter in a
scaled scrum or SAFe environment will be crucial for a smooth transition. One
of the key challenges faced by new Scrum Masters is adapting to the increased
scale and complexity of Agile initiatives within the SAFe framework or in a
Scrum environment with multiple teams and agendas.
This may involve navigating the
dynamics of larger Agile teams, addressing cross-team dependencies, and
coordinating with multiple stakeholders to ensure alignment and collaboration.
Additionally, new Scrum Masters may encounter the expectation of driving
organizational change and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, which
requires effective leadership, communication, and change management skills. By
recognizing and preparing for these challenges, new Scrum Masters can
proactively develop strategies to overcome obstacles and thrive in their new
roles.
Navigating Scrum Events in a SAFe or Scrum at Scale Environment
Understanding the essential SAFe
events such as PI planning, ART sync, system demo, and inspect and adapt, along
with the implications for new Scrum Masters, will be critical for your role.
For instance, actively participating in PI planning sessions as a Scrum Master
involves facilitating team discussions, identifying and addressing
dependencies, and ensuring that the team's objectives are aligned with the
overall ART goals. Engaging in ART sync meetings allows Scrum Masters to
collaborate with other teams, address impediments, and provide valuable input
to support the successful execution of the program. By actively contributing to
these events, Scrum Masters play a pivotal role in driving a culture of
collaboration, continuous improvement, and delivery excellence within the SAFe
environment.
In a SAS (Scrum at Scale) environment
the challenges remain much the same. Some of the events are a bit different. I
have an article coming that explains Scrum at Scale and the differences in the
near future. But in a nutshell, PI planning is replaced by a general cadence of
business reviews and planning and a weekly or sprintly “big planning” session
with cross-team interaction. I will go into detail in that later article.
Embracing the New Role as a Scrum Master
As you embark on your journey as a new
Scrum Master, it's important to prioritize preparation, continuous learning,
and adaptability. Embrace your role with confidence, determination, and a
commitment to ongoing professional development to excel in your new position.
By leveraging the insights gained from the transition process, Scrum Master
training and certification, and the understanding of the simple, SAFe, or
scaled environment, you can navigate the challenges and expectations with
resilience and contribute to the success of Agile initiatives within your
organization. Remember, each challenge presents an opportunity for growth, and
your role as a Scrum Master offers the potential to drive positive change and
innovation within the Agile ecosystem.
Thanks for staying with me through
this. You can do it!
About the Author
Ronnie S. Smith SPC, with a career marked by significant Agile contributions since 2003, led a transformation at AKFSI and held a trumpeted Sr. Scrum Master role at Bank of America, establishing himself as a recognized authority in Agile methodologies. As a SAFe trainer with 13 Agile certifications and 8 SAFe enablements, Ron has been instrumental in advancing Agile practices. His book, "Waking up Agile," due for release soon, promises to extend Agile concepts beyond the workplace, offering insights for applying these principles to everyday life. Available for pre-order orders@wakingupagile.com
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