The Scrum Master: The Team Leader

What I suddenly hear from this question, is “What does the method prescribe?” or what “What does the checklist tell me to do?”. Remember, we have said this time and time again, “Scrum is a framework, not a methodology.” You must adapt to what you see is important for you to do for your team and the product they are developing. Always keep in mind that your main responsibility as the Scrum Master is to”Create the team.” So my responding question to you from the question I was asked here is this, “do you need to be there daily to create the team, coach the team, and turn it into a Performing team. Do you need to attend this time with your team as you lead them ona journey down the patheway of continual self-organization. Do you need to be with th team your are leading. Is a absentee leader, really a leader?

For me, as a Scrum Master, the Daily Scrum is one of the most important Scrum Ceremonies for me to attend and that is daily. How can I fulfill my most important responsibility as a Scrum Master in creating a “performing team”? I watch each team member as they speak. I can tell from body language, facial expressions, and the eyes, just where the team is as they move from forming, to storming, to norming and performing. My drive as a “servant leader” is to lead the team to be the “Kansas City Chiefs” of the I.T. world, the number one team.” How can the team follow if there is no leader? That is why one of my teams is known as the “Dream Team” in government circles.

Here is Jeff Sutherland, co-founder of Scrum talking about the daily Scrum. I use this video in my Scrum Master Unversity courses as well as in my role of Corporate trainer and coach: