Effective Scrum Master’s Dos and Don’ts

Scrum is a framework with just three roles (Product owner, Scrum master and Team), three artifacts (Product backlog, Sprint backlog and Burn-down chart) and a few ceremonies (Sprint planning, sprint review, sprint retrospective and daily stand up). Its easier to learn but way more difficult to practice. Adopting scrum is not just a change of titles but mindset. In this article I will focus on the role of a scrum master. Being only a good scrum master is not enough, effective is the goal. Below are the Dos and Don’ts for a scrum master to be effetive

Scrum Master Dos :

1. Facilitate the product owner to maintain and prioritize the backlog items.
2. Facilitate team members with any additional training or coaching required.
3. Makes sure that team delivers the  true value to the business.
4. Inspires the team members to own the tasks.
5. Allow and help team members to make decisions.
6. Removes any impediments holding the team back to achieve their goals.
7. Helps team to become self-organised.
8. Shields team from external interference.
9. Acts as a servant leader.
10. Should be willing to improve continuously.
11. Handles only one team. If you  are a scrum master of more than one team, the commitment cannot be the same.

Scrum Master Don’ts :

1. Own the decisions on product backlogs from product owner’s behalf.
2. Make estimates on team’s behalf.
3. Assign the tasks to the team members
4. Try to manage the team.
5. Make changes to team in middle of sprint.
6. Accept backlog changes in middle of sprint.
7. Make commitments on behalf of the team.

Scrum master does not control the team. He acts as a facilitator and works on the concept of servant leadership.

I hope this will help someone. Please add your thoughts in comments.