What or who even is a Scrum Master & why should I care?

What or who even is a Scrum Master & why should I care?

When most people hear the word scrum master, they'll be forgiven for going huh?? In this blog post, we answer all your questions. What/who is a scrum master? What do they do? Why is their role necessary? Who can be a scrum master? How can I be a scrum master? Is is a lucrative career?

 

What is a Scrum Master?

A Scrum master is a professional who leads a team using Agile project management through the course of a project. A Scrum master is a professional who leads a team through a project using Agile project management techniques.

   

What does a Scrum Master do?

The scrum master helps the team enhance and streamline the processes by which they achieve their goals. They do so as a team member, or collaborator, ideally not as someone in control. The best scrum teams are self-organizing, and therefore don't react well to top-down management.

What does a Scrum Master Do?

  
Is a Scrum Master the same as a Project Manager?
The Scrum Master should not be confusing with the role of Project Manager. The scrum master's role is to take a different perspective from the team members and don't directly work as a taskmaster. They don't direct the team, collect status, compile reports, and share it with the stakeholders.
  
Why is the role of a Scrum Master important?
The scrum master helps the team enhance and streamline the processes by which they achieve their goals. They do so as a team member, or collaborator, ideally not as someone in control. The best scrum teams are self-organizing, and therefore don't react well to top-down management.
   
Who can be a scrum master?
The good news is, you don't need a specific background to become a Scrum Master. People having the skillset of Scrum Master can come from any field. The not-so-good news is, it's hard and takes years of skilful practise to become an effective Scrum Master. So before discussing who can become an effective Scrum Master, let's understand the key skills required to perform Scrum Master role, which are:

- Facilitation
- Teaching
- Coaching

These skills help you to leverage your existing background in helping the teams you serve. 5 point Checklist to become an Effective Scrum Master

1. Are you adept at influencing people?
2. Are you passionate to delight customers?
3. Are you driven by the motive of serving your team?
4. Do you have experience in the domain or the product that your teams are working on?
5. Do you understand Scrum well?

Depending on what background you come from, you may need to acquire new skills of Scrum Master role and you may also need to unlearn some bad behaviours that may hinder you from performing the Scrum Master's role effectively.

Example:
If you manage Finance, If you Write performance appraisals, If the Scrum team members report to you, you may have to explicitly let go of that organizational power and authority to be able to serve the team as Scrum Master.  

  

Who Can Become a Scrum Master
  
How can I be a scrum master?
We'd love to help you realise the dream of becoming a Scrum Master. We provide world-training over 2 weeks followed by hands-on support through the job application and interview process. Simply check out our course dates and book yourself on the next available training.
  
Is is a lucrative career?
Oh yes! the average Scrum Master earns £55 - 60k per annum and that's in a permanent role. Those on a day rate earn significantly more. Book your place here or email us at info@stepwisecareers.com or call +44 (0) 7984 485 504 to find our more.
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