Worst trait in unskilled scrum masters?

Published on
2 minute read

Worst trait in unskilled scrum masters?

Do you picture a Scrum Master as a stern taskmaster, a zealous micromanager, or even an omnipotent boss? If that’s a ‘yes’, prepare to flip your perceptions upside down! 🔄

In the realm of Scrum Masters, there’s no ‘one’ worst trait. 🚫 Yep, you’ve guessed it, the list of unsuitable characteristics can run as long as a never-ending story. 📜👀

But let’s zone in on a handful of traits that stick out like a sore thumb in an unskilled Scrum Master.

I’m going to tackle some misconceptions with a pinch of humour. 😅

(Hint: If you believe Scrum Masters are a blend of taskmaster and micromanager, brace yourself! 🙅‍♂️)

Let’s kick off with some of the worst traits you could find in an unskilled Scrum Master:

1️⃣          They believe they’re everyone’s boss

2️⃣          They constantly tell people what to do

3️⃣          They’ve got a PhD in micromanagement

4️⃣          They think it’s their role to set up the environment

5️⃣          They’re the self-proclaimed Allocators of All Work

Sounds exhausting, right?  

Indeed, this might seem overwhelming.

It’s important to understand that these traits are not only counterproductive but also alien to the essence of a Scrum Master.

 In other words, these behaviours are more relevant to effective Scrum Mastery than a fish does to bicycling. This is not the path to facilitating successful, agile teams.🚀🎯

So, what does a great Scrum Master look like?

✅ They’re not the boss. They’re the facilitator

✅ They don’t dictate. They inspire and guide

✅ They don’t micromanage. They empower

✅ They don’t set up the environment. They foster a conducive one

✅ They don’t allocate work. They facilitate self-organization

Being a Scrum Master is about enhancing team effectiveness and Agile prowess. It’s about enabling your team to stand tall, improve, and adapt. Remember, it’s all about being present, adaptive, and keeping things simple.

Are you a Scrum Master who’s ready to shrug off the mantle of micromanagement and embrace true facilitation? 🚀

No more dragging around baggage from the worst Scrum Master traits. 🎯

Let’s connect and elevate your Scrum game together! 🙌

Hashtags:        #ScrumMaster  #Micromanagement #Misconceptions, #ElevateYourGame

#Agile, #AgileCoach, #Scrum, #ScrumMaster, #AgileCentre, #ProductOwner, #BusinessAnalyst, #AgileProjectManagement, #BusinessAgility, #ScrumTraining, #AgileProductDevelopment.

The worst trait in unskilled Scrum Masters is probably their thinking that they’re the boss of everybody, thinking that they should be telling people what to do, thinking that they should be micromanaging, thinking that they should be setting up the Jira environment, thinking that they should be allocating the work, and all of that is just crap. It has nothing to do with being a Scrum Master. Being a Scrum Master is about helping teams be more effective, and all of those things—I can’t think of an easier way to make a team ineffective. Focus on what helps the team stand on their own, be better at what they do, being visibly present. And yeah.

People and Process Scrum Master Scrum Team Team Performance Agile Project Management Coaching Self Organisation Agile Frameworks

Connect with Martin Hinshelwood

If you've made it this far, it's worth connecting with our principal consultant and coach, Martin Hinshelwood, for a 30-minute 'ask me anything' call.

Our Happy Clients​

We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.​

New Signature Logo
Akaditi Logo
Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd Logo
MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd. Logo
Xceptor - Process and Data Automation Logo
Big Data for Humans Logo
Slaughter and May Logo
ALS Life Sciences Logo
Brandes Investment Partners L.P. Logo
Philips Logo
Schlumberger Logo
DFDS Logo
Boxit Document Solutions Logo
Lockheed Martin Logo
Ericson Logo
Genus Breeding Ltd Logo
Kongsberg Maritime Logo
Healthgrades Logo
Nottingham County Council Logo
Royal Air Force Logo
Department of Work and Pensions (UK) Logo
Washington Department of Transport Logo
Ghana Police Service Logo
Washington Department of Enterprise Services Logo
YearUp.org Logo
ProgramUtvikling Logo
Genus Breeding Ltd Logo
Graham & Brown Logo
Healthgrades Logo
SuperControl Logo