Podcast Summary: How to Know Your Team Has Internalized Agile Values

Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast
Host: Vasco Duarte | Guest: Sara Di Gregorio
Date: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview:

This episode delves into the core question of how Scrum Masters can recognize when their teams have truly internalized Agile values. Sara Di Gregorio shares hands-on retrospective strategies, principles for fostering team engagement, and markers of real Agile success. The discussion is candid, practical, and focused on culture and growth, rather than just delivery metrics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Retrospective Formats: Mixing Structure and Freedom

[01:11–05:14]

• In-person Value: Sara highlights the unique benefits of holding retrospectives in person, when possible, to enhance connection.
• Novel Experimentation:
  • Sara has shifted towards “free format” retrospectives using blank paper, sticky notes, and colored pens.
  • This approach starts with open questions, e.g., “What impacted you the most last week? How do you feel today?”
• Balancing Formats:
  • Structured retrospectives are essential and effective.
  • Introducing unstructured, open formats sparks deeper engagement and genuine reflection.
• Engagement Through Variety:
  • Changing the routine can encourage openness and more enriching conversations.

Notable Quote:

“Sometimes breaking the routine and creating spacing for true reflections bring out something deeper and more meaningful.”
— Sara Di Gregorio [04:40]

2. Success as a Scrum Master: Beyond Deliverables

[06:01–09:56]

• Communication & Growth:
  • Success isn't only about team delivery. It’s equally about how the team communicates, collaborates, and grows.
  • Facilitating better communication directly enhances delivery outcomes.
• Active Participation:
  • A real mark of success is when teams see value in Scrum events and engage actively, not just out of obligation.
  • Examples:
    • Teams proactively ask for additional reflection time or propose discussions outside of scheduled retrospectives.
    • Mentioning the “goal” in planning signals growing alignment and purpose.
• Proactive Team Behavior:
  • Teams that initiate action — such as reminding others about timeboxes or leading by example in cross-team contexts — display Agile maturity.
  • Sara shares pride in witnessing her team independently championing Agile practices, e.g., advocating for timekeeping in meetings she’s merely attending as an observer.
• Healthy PO Interactions:
  • Regular feedback, open discussions, and a shared care for quality are essential signs that Agile values have been internalized.

Notable Moment:

“When I listen the teams saying, ‘Sara, can we have 30 minutes talking this sprint? Because we have something to say, so we have to reflect on something.’ Yes, of course. We don’t have to wait for the retrospective...”
— Sara Di Gregorio [07:01]

Notable Quote:

“A successful team is one that truly sees the value on Scrum events … they participate actively and understand why each event matters.”
— Sara Di Gregorio [06:35]

3. Indicators of Culture and Maturity

[09:56–10:54]

• Success Manifested in Attitudes:
  • The team’s attitude towards each other, leadership, and the Scrum Master shows the health of the Agile culture.
  • Building an open environment where candid feedback, collaboration, and extra-reflective moments outside prescribed events are normalized is core.
• Building or Amplifying Culture:
  • Some teams already possess these traits and just need encouragement. Others develop them step by step with deliberate Scrum Masterwork.
• Retrospective Structures as Culture Tools:
  • Both structured and “white paper” retrospectives serve the evolution of team norms and reflection habits.

Host Reflection:

“It illustrates the importance of the kind of environment and culture that we are able to bring to the team ... talking openly, having reflection outside the retrospectives. All of those things.”
— Vasco Duarte [10:23]

4. Scrum as a Way of Working, Not Just a Framework

[10:54–11:45]

• Enabling Change Through Empowerment:
  • When joining new teams, Sara stresses that she’s not there to enforce change, but to empower the team to decide for themselves — a mindset crucial to real Agile adoption.
• Sustainable Culture:
  • The long-term goal is for teams to be happy, communicative, and process-improving on their own.

Memorable Exchange:

“Scrum isn’t just a process to follow, but it’s a way of working ... you will choose what you want to change.”
— Sara Di Gregorio [11:01]

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Highlight | |-----------|---------|-----------------| | 04:40 | Sara Di Gregorio | “Sometimes breaking the routine and creating spacing for true reflections bring out something deeper and more meaningful.” | | 06:35 | Sara Di Gregorio | “A successful team is one that truly sees the value on Scrum events ... they participate actively and understand why each event matters.” | | 07:01 | Sara Di Gregorio | “Sara, can we have 30 minutes talking this sprint? Because we have something to say, so we have to reflect on something.” | | 09:36 | Sara Di Gregorio | “Some years ago, a colleague of mine in a meeting with other people...say, guys, we have to respect the time box. So I feel so happy.” | | 10:23 | Vasco Duarte | “It illustrates the importance of the kind of environment and culture that we are able to bring to the team ...” | | 11:01 | Sara Di Gregorio | “Scrum isn’t just a process to follow, but it’s a way of working ... you will choose what you want to change.” |

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:11] – Discussion on retrospective formats: structured vs. unstructured
• [06:01] – What “success” means as a Scrum Master
• [07:01] – Teams taking initiative for reflection
• [09:36] – Maturity indicators: proactivity and timeboxing
• [10:23] – Host reflection on building culture
• [11:01] – “Scrum is a way of working” philosophy

Tone and Language

Sara speaks with warmth, humor, and a hands-on, empowering attitude. Vasco supports with affirming, reflective comments, facilitating a conversational and genuinely insightful exchange.

Takeaways

• Retrospective formats should be varied to unlock deeper team engagement.
• True Agile success is grounded in communication, proactivity, and a culture of reflection, not just delivery metrics.
• Scrum Masters succeed when their teams own the process, seek improvement independently, and demonstrate Agile values naturally—even outside formal ceremonies.

This episode offers practical strategies, motivational moments, and clear guidance for any Scrum Master seeking to measure and nurture real Agile maturity in their team.