Pawel Mysliwiec, a fellow professional Scrum trainer with Scrum.org, joins host Ryan Ripley on the "Becoming a Scrum Master" podcast.

Pawel's Entry into Scrum: Pawel recounts his initial, unknowing encounter with Scrum while working as a product manager on bank credit transaction software. He participated in what he later learned were Scrum meetings, such as the daily Scrum, without realizing it was part of Scrum methodology.

Eureka Moment in Scrum: Pawel experienced his transformative moment with Scrum on a complex project within a waterfall program. He managed two teams and decided to apply Scrum internally while maintaining a project manager facade externally. This led to successful incremental deliveries and effective collaboration between business and IT personnel, which was a revelation to him.

Evolution of Scrum Master Role: Pawel reflects on the evolution of the Scrum Master role, emphasizing the shift from understanding and practicing Scrum to ensuring the team's long-term success and delivering financial value. He believes the role encompasses facilitating team effectiveness and reliability and helping teams become examples of good practice.

Advice for Aspiring Scrum Masters: Pawel advises patience and resilience as key traits for Scrum Masters. Change doesn't happen overnight, and a good Scrum Master should be resilient enough to keep trying while being patient for the change to occur. He also suggests a learning-by-doing approach and recommends reading books on Scrum Mastery, particularly for beginners.

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Ryan and Todd look back at a 2006 post by Ken Schwaber, which covers 15 ways Scrum is both hard and disruptive.

The fourteenth statement from Ken:

"A team consists of people under pressure to do their best. Conflict is natural and the team needs to know how to deal with the conflict and have resources to draw on when needed."

Natural Conflict in Teams: The episode discusses how conflict is a natural occurrence in teams, especially under pressure. This pressure can be constructive and lead to better performance if it's oriented towards clear goals, such as achieving Sprint and product goals in Scrum.

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Conflict: They emphasize the difference between healthy and unhealthy conflict. Healthy conflict focuses on problem-solving and can be beneficial, while unhealthy conflict, which can escalate to personal fights, is detrimental. The key is to maintain focus on solving problems, not winning arguments.

Role of Scrum Values in Managing Conflict: Scrum values like commitment are highlighted in managing conflict. These values support positive, natural conflict oriented towards team goals and problem-solving instead of destructive fights.

Team Dynamics and Conflict Resolution: The hosts discuss the importance of recognizing when a discussion is veering away from productive conflict and turning into a personal fight. They stress the importance of team members being able to intervene, reset the focus on the problem, and avoid stubbornness in pursuit of being right.

Balance Between Agreement and Conflict: They conclude that while conflict is necessary for progress, it needs to be balanced. Neither constant agreement nor continuous fighting is beneficial. A good Scrum Master, product owner, or team member should help maintain this balance, encouraging healthy conflict while preventing fights.

👉 Follow our journey through all 15 insights in Ken Schwaber's white paper, revealing the enduring relevance of Scrum principles.

💬 Share your perspectives in the comments and remember to like and subscribe for more in-depth Scrum discussions. 🔔

🔗 Here is the original white paper: https://www.verheulconsultants.nl/ScrumIsHardandDisruptive.pdf

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Magdalena discusses her transition from traditional project management to Scrum. In 2008, while experiencing project delays and rapid business environment changes, she discovered Scrum in a project management course, finding it a revelation for addressing these challenges.

Firlit highlights a pivotal moment in her journey: recognizing Scrum's ability to respond to market changes and customer needs, previously overlooked in traditional project management approaches. This realization initiated discussions about adopting new methodologies within her organization.

Her Scrum Master journey involved a professional transformation and a shift in personal mindset and habits. After a few years in various roles related to agile coaching and product management, she found passion and happiness in these new methodologies.

Firlit emphasizes the evolving role of a Scrum Master, stressing the importance of focusing on organizational aspects and value orientation rather than just team-level concerns and basic practices. She discusses challenges in organizational culture and the need for openness to change.

Lastly, she advises aspiring Scrum Masters to focus on the broader organizational context and product ownership, emphasizing the need to understand and respond to complexity, market changes, and technology advancements. She recommends thinking beyond team effectiveness and tool usage to include organizational agility and product outcomes.

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David shares his first exposure to Scrum in 2007 during a two-day training seminar organized by his then-employer. This led him and his colleagues to experiment with Scrum in their workplace, with David volunteering to be the Scrum Master.

Application and Evolution of Scrum Mastery: David discusses applying Scrum principles both in an academic setting and later as a product owner in a Toronto startup. He reflects on the evolution of his understanding of the Scrum Master role, emphasizing its complexity and the importance of having positional authority and experience in technology and business domains.

Insights on the Scrum Master Role: The conversation delves into the changing perceptions of the Scrum Master role, with both agreeing it's not an entry-level position but one requiring experience and authority. They note a trend where the role has been misunderstood and diminished, advocating for a return to viewing it as a leadership position.

Advice for Aspiring Scrum Masters and Resources: David advises new Scrum Masters to understand the agreements within their teams, focus on the concept of 'Definition of Done,' and foster relationships beyond work.

He recommends the book The Wisdom of Teams and shares his involvement in training and consulting and his book about the Phoenix payroll system failure in Canada's federal government.

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The video is part of a series in which hosts Todd Miller, and Ryan Ripley discuss common myths or facts about Scrum, encouraging viewers to participate by commenting on their opinions before watching the response.

🔍 Today's Myth or Fact: "The Scrum Master is responsible for the personal growth of the developers."

Todd and Ryan agree that the statement is a myth, emphasizing that personal growth and development are individual responsibilities, not the Scrum Master's.

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Lavaneesh Gautam, a professional scrum trainer, shares his journey to becoming a Scrum Master on the "Becoming a Scrum Master" podcast with host Ryan Ripley.

Gautam first encountered Scrum while working as a developer/business analyst in a fintech company in 2011. He appreciated its transparency and visual management, which motivated him to become a Scrum Master in 2014.

His interest in Scrum was sparked by the limitations he observed in the waterfall method, particularly its command-and-control culture, which diminished job satisfaction.

Gautam highlights a pivotal experience in an automotive company where a project failure due to a lack of agile methodology made him realize the importance of iterative and incremental work and understanding the underlying needs behind requirements.

He advises aspiring Scrum Masters to continually learn and explore beyond formal training, emphasizing the importance of mindset, experimentation, and understanding broader aspects of product management and team dynamics.

🔔 Stay tuned for more episodes filled with expert knowledge and intriguing discussions. We encourage you to share your thoughts and questions in the comments below. Your input is valuable to our community, and we often feature your inquiries in our future videos!

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Ryan and Todd look back at a 2006 post by Ken Schwaber, which covers 15 ways Scrum is both hard and disruptive.

The thirteenth statement from Ken:

"Self-managing teams are extremely productive. When they work closely with the customer to derive the best solution to a need, they and the customer are even more productive."

Self-Managing Teams' Productivity: The episode emphasizes that self-managing teams are highly productive, especially when they work closely with customers to find the best solutions. This collaboration enhances productivity for both the team and the customer.

Autonomy and Team Ownership: The discussion highlights the benefits of autonomy in team settings. Teams that own their work without constant oversight tend to produce higher-quality results. This autonomy is linked to increased productivity and satisfaction.

Resistance to Coercion in Workplaces: Current trends show resistance to coercive work environments, where employees are forced into specific work arrangements. Organizations enforcing strict mandates often face challenges like talent loss, emphasizing the need for trusting professional teams to self-organize and manage their work.

Customer Inclusion and Empathy: It is vital to include customers in the development process. Direct interaction between teams and customers fosters empathy and a deeper understanding of real customer needs, leading to more effective solutions.

Skill Development for Teamwork: The episode underscores the importance of developing teamwork skills. Teams need to learn how to self-manage effectively. While this isn't an inherent skill for everyone, with the right coaching and environment, teams can achieve high levels of productivity and impact.

👉 Follow our journey through all 15 insights in Ken Schwaber's white paper, revealing the enduring relevance of Scrum principles.

💬 Share your perspectives in the comments and remember to like and subscribe for more in-depth Scrum discussions. 🔔

🔗 Here is the original white paper: https://www.verheulconsultants.nl/ScrumIsHardandDisruptive.pdf

🔗 Join Ryan & Todd's Scrum.org course: https://buytickets.at/agileforhumansllc

Explore more:

📖 "Unlocking Business Agility with Evidence-Based Management: Satisfy Customers and Improve Organizational Effectiveness" on Amazon -- https://amzn.to/4690qJy

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Coming from a development background, John Riley first encountered scrum around 2004, initially attracted to it due to its focus on agility and better project outcomes. Despite an early failure in an agile transformation attempt due to limited understanding and lack of support, he remained interested in Scrum.

Shift to Scrum Master Role: Riley's profound engagement with Scrum began in 2010 while working on a banking application. Impressed by the effectiveness of a scrum environment and inspired by the scrum master of his team, he decided to pursue the scrum master role himself, taking over after the departure of the original scrum master.

Eureka Moment and Evolution in Approach: Riley's approach to scrum evolved significantly after a candid conversation with team members who felt he was too rigid in his methods. This led to his realization that scrum is a flexible framework rather than a strict set of rules, prompting him to adopt a more observational and indirect coaching style.

Advice for Aspiring Scrum Masters: He emphasizes the importance of finding a mentor for guidance and challenges, advocating for a mindset open to learning and adapting. Riley also suggests pairing up with someone experienced to better understand the agile and scrum mindsets.

Book Recommendation and Conclusion: Riley recommends "Drive" by Daniel Pink as a crucial read for scrum masters, highlighting its insights into leadership and motivation. He underscores the importance of intrinsic motivation in the scrum master role.

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Todd Miller, Will Seele, and Ryan Ripley discuss Agile's internal (organizational) focus and the gap left by not addressing the Value component of Product Management and delivery.

In this Episode:

Internal Focus of Agile: The discussion, led by Todd Miller and Ryan Ripley, challenges the common perception of Agile as customer-centric and value-oriented, proposing instead that Agile is predominantly focused on internal processes and organizational matters rather than directly benefiting customers.

Agile Manifesto Analysis: The Agile Manifesto and its principles, when examined, emphasize team interactions, working software, and adapting to change but lack explicit directives that prioritize customer value or tangible benefits for the customer.

Evolution and Additions to Agile: Over time, various frameworks like Scrum, XP, Kanban, and others have evolved under the umbrella of Agile, incorporating aspects like customer centricity and iterative development. However, these are seen as additions to the core Agile philosophy, which remains internally focused.

Evidence-Based Management Connection: The conversation transitions to evidence-based management and its potential integration with Agile. This approach aims to complement Agile by introducing a more outward, value-driven focus, assessing Agile’s impact on customers and market performance.

Insufficiency of Agile Alone: The presenters conclude that while Agile methodologies are crucial, they are insufficient to ensure organizational success. They stress the need to balance Agile's internal process focus and external value delivery, advocating for a continuous evaluation of Agile's effectiveness and alignment with strategic goals.

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Andrii Glushchenko shares his unconventional journey into Scrum mastery. Glushchenko became a Scrum Master at 20 while working in an outsourcing company during the 2014-2015 Ukraine war. Initially a recruiter, his interest in Scrum was piqued by parallels he drew between the Scrum Master role and his basketball point guard experience.

Challenges of Starting Without Knowledge: Glushchenko candidly admits that starting as a Scrum Master without proper knowledge was not ideal, as it led to wasting company resources while he learned on the job. He emphasizes that this approach is not recommended and underscores the importance of having a technical background and understanding of Scrum principles.

Evolution of Understanding and Practice: Over time, Glushchenko's perception and execution of the Scrum Master role evolved significantly. He initially thought the role was limited to ensuring Scrum works at the team level. Still, he later realized it encompasses helping the entire company achieve its goals through Scrum implementation, involving change and operational management.

Continuous Learning and Impact-Driven Approach: He highlights the necessity of constant learning, celebrating small victories, and being impact-driven. Glushchenko shares how he approaches problems by assessing the cost of fixing them against the potential gain, focusing on impactful changes.

Advice for Aspiring Scrum Masters and Further Insights: Glushchenko advises aspiring Scrum Masters to understand the accountability and dedication required for the role. He recommends being diligent and constantly improving oneself. He also stresses the importance of supporting Ukraine in its current crisis, linking his personal background to broader global issues.

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Becky Savill's journey to becoming a Scrum Master began nearly 10 years ago when, after six months of programming, her boss suggested she might be better suited to the role, despite her lack of prior knowledge about Scrum.

Her boss recognized her passion lay not in coding but in solving team problems and working effectively together, leading her to dive deep into Scrum Mastering.

A pivotal moment in Savill's career was during a Sprint retrospective, where a team member questioned the purpose of the meeting. The team's response, highlighting the positive changes and improvements made through Scrum, solidified her belief in Scrum's effectiveness.

Over the years, Savill's understanding of being a Scrum Master evolved from focusing on the mechanics of Scrum to understanding its deeper purpose and ensuring it becomes a sustainable practice within teams.

Savill emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and practical application in the Scrum Master role, advising aspiring Scrum Masters to engage actively in their professional development beyond just consuming knowledge.

🔔 Stay tuned for more episodes filled with expert knowledge and intriguing discussions. We encourage you to share your thoughts and questions in the comments below. Your input is valuable to our community, and we often feature your inquiries in our future videos!

👍 Found this episode enlightening? Please LIKE and SHARE it with your network to spread the knowledge!

Explore more:

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