I thought today’s article would be a good time to share a thought that’s been on my mind lately: “How much guidance do Scrum Masters receive from Agile leaders, and is more needed?”🤔
Agile and Scrum practitioners know the importance of mentorship and guidance.
However, as the question suggests, we also understand that the reality can be complicated and that more may be needed.
The Importance of Agile Leadership
This is a tricky question for me because there aren’t many truly Agile leaders out there. The Agile leaders who truly understand Agile know that their role is not to dictate but to provide a structure and focus on creating a working environment where everyone can excel. 🚀
Agile leaders also understand that their role is not about dictating how the job should be done and that their journey is shared.
Moreover, in many ways, a good leader in a 21st-century organisation looks a lot like a good Scrum Master. They’re focused on people, removing obstacles, and enabling great work. These leaders would naturally work with and mentor Scrum Masters, offering support and guidance.
The Balancing Act between Traditional and Agile Leadership
However, in many organisations, unfortunately, traditional managers are more prevalent, so their company still leans towards traditional management styles, where the focus is often more on control and process.
There’s no doubt that in these environments, Scrum Masters may find less support and guidance.
This traditional mindset can offer less support to a Scrum Master, as it comes from a different paradigm. However, these leaders often see the benefits of having a Scrum Master around, but they may not necessarily understand how it relates to their own management style, creating a disconnect.
Mentoring: A Pathway to Success
There’s a massive power in Agile leadership and mentorship. If we have Agile leaders who genuinely care about creating a responsive, adaptive organisation, I strongly believe in the power of mentorship. When looking at the bigger picture, more mentorship is indeed needed.
Why? Because many Scrum Masters work in a vacuum, often feeling like they’re shouting into the void. Therefore, they are more likely to excel when they receive support and mentorship when someone helps them understand better and the effects of their impact.
A Call to Action for Agile Leaders
I would love to see more Agile leaders mentoring Scrum Masters, helping them to flourish and grow, and providing the support they need to do a fantastic job. An Agile leader can help shape a Scrum Master’s career path, give a place to reflect and understand their broader impact, and offer invaluable experience-based insights.
If you’re an Agile leader, I encourage you to step up and mentor. 📚
If you’re a Scrum Master looking for a mentor, don’t hesitate to ask. You might be surprised by the result! 💬
Let’s continue on this journey together and help each other navigate the complex world of Agile and Scrum. 🚀
If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page.
If you are inspired by the idea of an online apprenticeship for a scrum master, visit https://www.agilesuccess.academy/courses/growing-scrum-masters-advanced
If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page.
If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page.
If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page.
For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.
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Keywords: Agile Leadership, Scrum Masters, Mentorship, Professional Growth
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