Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile Storytelling from the Trenches

Episode Summary: "Signs of Scrum Master Success | Gosia Smoleńska"

Host: Vasco Duarte
Guest: Gosia Smoleńska
Release Date: November 21, 2024

Introduction

In this engaging episode of the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast, host Vasco Duarte welcomes Gosia Smoleńska, an experienced Scrum Master and Agile Coach, to discuss the indicators of success for Scrum Masters. The conversation delves into effective retrospective formats, defining personal and team success, fostering team autonomy, and cultivating systemic thinking within Agile teams.

Favorite Retrospective Formats

Gosia Smoleńska shares her preferred method for team retrospectives, emphasizing simplicity and structure.

"I think it's lean coffee... it's easy. You have some formula that you have to follow... it's easy to understand for people how to actually do it." (01:31)

Gosia highlights Lean Coffee as her favorite retrospective format due to its balance between structured guidance and open discussion. She appreciates how it reduces pressure by adhering to a formula while encouraging light, meaningful conversations. The interactive elements, such as thumbs up and thumbs down, add a fun component that engages team members.

Unexpected Benefits of Lean Coffee

Exploring beyond the basics, Gosia identifies unforeseen advantages of implementing Lean Coffee with her teams.

"You can finish only the topics you can finish. You don't have to go through everything... It also gives this feeling to the team like this is the highest priority." (02:02)

She points out that Lean Coffee allows meetings to remain within time constraints without sacrificing quality. By prioritizing topics, teams focus on what truly matters, fostering a sense of urgency and efficiency. This approach not only streamlines meetings but also instills a valuable work ethic that can be applied beyond retrospectives.

Defining Success as a Scrum Master

The conversation shifts to personal benchmarks for success in the Scrum Master role.

"Success is when we are not needed anymore and no one even noticed that we stopped interfering." (03:19)

For Gosia, true success lies in the team's ability to operate independently. This means resolving conflicts, conducting meetings, and managing processes without constant intervention. She recounts a poignant moment when her team expressed their readiness to handle retrospectives autonomously:

"They were like, 'We don't need you here. This is our retrospective.'... It was like sending your children to school for the first time." (04:49)

Gosia views this independence as a testament to her effectiveness as a Scrum Master, signifying that the team has internalized Agile principles and practices.

Signs a Team is Becoming Self-Sufficient

Gosia outlines key indicators that a team is progressing toward self-sufficiency and effective self-management.

1. Shift from Issues to Ideas

"The first hint for me is when they stop bringing me issues and start bringing ideas." (05:27)

Teams begin to proactively suggest solutions instead of merely presenting problems, demonstrating increased ownership and problem-solving capabilities.

2. Implementation Without Constant Validation

"They have wanted outcome... I don't have to check with them if they did it... they are showing also we did this and this is how it works." (06:06)

When teams implement ideas independently and share their outcomes without seeking approval, it indicates maturity and confidence in their processes.

Encouraging Teams to Bring Ideas Instead of Issues

Gosia emphasizes the importance of guiding teams to transition from a problem-centric approach to an innovation-driven mindset.

"It's not like you are in the team and you have influence only on the things in your team because sometimes you can help." (07:24)

She encourages teams to not only identify challenges but also take the initiative to devise and test solutions. This proactive stance fosters a culture of continuous improvement and resilience.

Cultivating Systemic Thinking in Teams

Understanding that team performance is influenced by external factors, Gosia discusses strategies to help teams recognize and navigate these influences.

Exercise: The 7 Wastes from Lean Management

"I use this exercise of 7 waste from Lean Management where you have to actually think what is waste around you." (07:24)

By leveraging the 7 Wastes framework, teams assess inefficiencies not just within their immediate environment but also in the broader organizational context. This holistic approach enables teams to identify and address systemic issues that impact their productivity and quality of work.

Tools and Resources for Systemic Thinking

Gosia recommends valuable resources to deepen teams' understanding of systemic thinking and Lean principles.

"Check out... Lean Software Development... and Fifth Discipline which shows you the systemic thinking." (09:18)

She underscores the importance of continuous learning and adopting comprehensive frameworks to enhance team dynamics and organizational efficiency.

Conclusion

In this insightful episode, Gosia Smoleńska provides a nuanced perspective on measuring success as a Scrum Master. By prioritizing effective retrospective formats like Lean Coffee, fostering team autonomy, encouraging proactive problem-solving, and integrating systemic thinking, Scrum Masters can drive their teams toward sustained success. Her experiences and strategies offer valuable lessons for Agile practitioners aiming to elevate their craft and empower their teams.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Gosia Smoleńska: "I think it's lean coffee... it's easy. You have some formula that you have to follow... it's easy to understand for people how to actually do it." (01:31)
• Gosia Smoleńska: "You can finish only the topics you can finish. You don't have to go through everything... It also gives this feeling to the team like this is the highest priority." (02:02)
• Gosia Smoleńska: "Success is when we are not needed anymore and no one even noticed that we stopped interfering." (03:19)
• Gosia Smoleńska: "They were like, 'We don't need you here. This is our retrospective.'... It was like sending your children to school for the first time." (04:49)
• Gosia Smoleńska: "The first hint for me is when they stop bringing me issues and start bringing ideas." (05:27)
• Gosia Smoleńska: "They have wanted outcome... I don't have to check with them if they did it... they are showing also we did this and this is how it works." (06:06)
• Gosia Smoleńska: "I use this exercise of 7 waste from Lean Management where you have to actually think what is waste around you." (07:24)
• Gosia Smoleńska: "Check out... Lean Software Development... and Fifth Discipline which shows you the systemic thinking." (09:18)

Stay Tuned:
Don't miss the next episode where Vasco Duarte delves into the critical role of the Product Owner in Scrum, exploring anti-patterns, support strategies, and real-life examples of exemplary Product Owners.

References:

• Lean Software Development by Mary and Tom Poppendieck
• The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge

Note: This summary is based on the transcript provided up to [09:59]. For the full experience, consider listening to the episode.