Why Agile Scrum Master?

It's been 14 years now I am working in this IT industry. I have worked through many roles in my career like Developer, Software tester, software quality analyst, team lead, delivery lead, DevOps engineer in Agile scrum teams, Scrum master, Group Scrum Master, Agile transformation leader, Agile Coach. This journey was very eventful & full of learning; and still it is. I think life & Agile is no different; both are empirical ones. We keep exploring life on our experience & learning and based on them we take / change our decisions in life. Agile reflects the same principles Inspect & Adapt.

I always wondered what kept me going in all these years. When I look back & try to remember good or bad memories specifically from my work life then all I see is people!!!

I remember my colleagues, my team, my team's success & failure both, leading my team, guiding them, appreciating them, sometime consoling them in their tough times. Then I realized that somewhere I am good with people. This is my passion I guess; which keeps me happy, motivates me, kept me going and will keep me going.

Now a days when I see some new comers in IT industry (approx 3 to 5 years experienced ones) I don't really see the learning thrust, maturity, sense of understanding & responsibility in them. They just want to go up the ladder quickly. I don't want to judge anyone here; but I feel everything is a part of process & learning which they miss or don't realize.

For example, when we were small child, we first learn to walk then we learn drive tricycle then bicycle and then we learn to drive bike. It's a process which builds a strong foundation, isn't it? Another example could be, we go though education process step by step. We go through each standard incrementally from 1st stand till 12th standard. We don't really attempt 12th Stand directly. Why we miss this logic after our education?

I have heard "Can I become Scrum master?" question probably 100 times in my last 3 years from variety of people. When I say variety of people I mean with different level of IT experience people like freshers, senior people etc. Question also changes with people experience level😊. Few question examples are:

• What is the scope for Agile Scrum Master? I am a developer right now can I get better pay if I shift & become a SM?

• Is CSM certification is enough to get a job as Scrum Master?

• What all certification I should do to get a job Scrum master?

Let me share the most funniest one; a fresh graduate from Engineering college came to me and asked

Student: Sir I have completed engineering and I have already done CSM certification. Can I directly get a job as Scrum master? I heard this job profile is in good demand now a days.

Me: I politely asked him only one question. Do you know SDLC? (Software Development Life Cycle)

Student: He replied I don’t remember what it is but yea read it somewhere 😊

This is like someone want to become a car driver who didn't even know how car looks like, just have read a car Manual. If Scrum Master doesn't know the life cycle / process of creating and maintaining software developments then how can he lead of team who is working on it?

When I compare my generation with current generation I feel current generation doesn't want to even spend time in learning & gaining experience. They need quick success without sweating. However they need to understand There are no shortcuts to success!!!

Scrum Master is a leadership role. The Scrum Master is responsible for promoting, implementing & supporting Scrum framework as defined in the Scrum Guide. Scrum Masters do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory, practices, rules, and values within team. Apart from bookish and as per scrum guide prerequisite of becoming Scrum Master there are many other behavioral qualities which are required to become efficient & effective scrum master. As I said it's a leadership role so to be more precise its a servant leadership role. So one has to have excellent people management skills and passionate about leading people. SM should be able to help / guide team, should be able to deal with conflict management, should be able to nurture people towards growth. SM is a part of team with additional responsibility of leading the team towards the success.

So retrospect yourself and see if you have below basic qualities of Servant Leadership or want to develop or prepared to develop then you can surely say "Why not Scrum Master"

Servant Leadership Principles

Listening actively & owning perceptions​

Empathy, understanding & connecting​

Healing, solving & freedom from fear of failing​

Awareness, of self & others, holism​

Persuasion, without coercion​

Conceptualization, vision of the long term​

Foresight, foresee outcomes​

Stewardship, obligation to serve the customer and the employee​

Growth, commitment to people's advancement​

Building Community, others helping others​

“…The great leader is seen as servant first…” – Robert K. Greenleaf​