Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile Storytelling from the Trenches

Episode: Understanding Team Expectations: The Key to Scrum Master Success | Mateusz Komander

Release Date: February 13, 2025
Host: Vasco Duarte
Guest: Mateusz Komander

Introduction

In this insightful episode, Vasco Duarte welcomes Mateusz Komander, an experienced Scrum Master, to delve into the critical topic of understanding team expectations as a foundation for Scrum Master success. The conversation explores various aspects of Agile retrospectives, defining success in the Scrum Master role, and fostering a collaborative and self-organizing team environment.

Favorite Agile Retrospective Formats

Timestamp: 02:20 – 05:18

Mateusz begins by discussing his approach to Agile retrospectives, emphasizing the importance of tailoring the retrospective format to the team’s unique needs.

• Adaptability Over Preference:
  “My favorite retrospective format is the one that suits the team best.” (02:35)
  Instead of adhering to a rigid structure, Mateusz believes in experimenting with different retrospective formats to find what resonates most with each team.

• Learning from Experience:
  Initially, Mateusz experimented with various elaborate retrospective methods. However, feedback from a team member highlighted the chaos caused by constantly changing formats. This prompted Mateusz to shift towards more consistent and straightforward approaches.

• Current Practices:
  For some teams, Mateusz has adopted the Lean Coffee format, which provides a balanced structure without overwhelming complexity. Conversely, other teams thrive with the traditional “What Went Well, What to Improve” format, proving that simplicity can be highly effective.

• Continuous Feedback Loop:
  Mateusz emphasizes the importance of soliciting feedback after each retrospective to ensure the format remains aligned with the team’s evolving needs. “Do you believe that this retrospective is for you? Good one. Can we try it one more time or would you like to experiment with different approach?” (04:50)
  This practice fosters a collaborative environment where the team actively participates in shaping their Agile practices.

Defining Success for Scrum Masters

Timestamp: 05:48 – 11:29

The conversation shifts to the multifaceted nature of success in the Scrum Master role, both for the practitioner and the team.

• Initial Team Expectations:
  Mateusz begins by regularly asking team members, “What do you expect from me as your Scrum Master?” (06:04)
  This question uncovers the team’s understanding and previous experiences with Scrum Masters, revealing whether expectations are rooted in best practices or affected by past anti-patterns.

• Evolving Success Metrics:
  Over time, Mateusz observes the maturation of teams based on how their expectations change. Initially, teams may see the Scrum Master primarily as a facilitator. As trust builds, they begin to seek deeper support, such as conflict resolution and coaching for self-development.

• Heartwarming Success Stories:
  An illustrative example Mateusz shares involves a team that, after six months, approached him to facilitate a session on creating a new architecture for their solution. Their request for facilitation methods and a structured approach demonstrated their trust and autonomy.
  “They came out of the session so happy and they showed me so, so huge insights they from that session that it was very, very heartwarming.” (09:30)

• Long-Term Success Indicators:
  Success is measured not just by immediate wins but by the team’s ability to self-organize and seek guidance when needed. When a team feels safe to ask for help, it signifies a healthy, collaborative environment.
  “They can come up to me to help them achieve better results.” (09:45)

Building Trust and Facilitating Autonomy

Timestamp: 10:09 – 11:02

Mateusz and Vasco highlight the importance of establishing trust within the team, enabling members to feel comfortable seeking assistance.

• Empowering Teams:
  Vasco comments, “Scrum Master shouldn't do that for us because we should know how to do it. But that's not the case. The Scrum Master is there to help with the things that teams perhaps don't feel so comfortable or don't have experience with.” (10:30)
  This perspective underscores the Scrum Master’s role in empowering teams to take ownership while providing the necessary support.

• Encouraging Open Communication:
  Successful Scrum Masters create an environment where team members feel safe to express their needs and seek guidance, fostering continuous improvement and collaboration.

Conflict Resolution and Maintaining Collaboration

Timestamp: 11:02 – 11:29

The discussion concludes with the critical role of conflict resolution in maintaining team cohesion.

• Essential Skills for Scrum Masters:
  Mateusz emphasizes that effective conflict resolution is a crucial skill for Scrum Masters.
  “Scrum Masters needs to focus on to be able to keep the team going and collaborative.” (11:10)
  By addressing conflicts promptly and constructively, Scrum Masters ensure a harmonious and productive team dynamic.

• Continuous Support:
  Through ongoing one-on-one sessions and team meetings, Scrum Masters can identify and resolve conflicts, promoting a collaborative and self-organizing team environment.

Conclusion

In this episode, Mateusz Komander provides valuable insights into the nuanced role of Scrum Masters in fostering successful Agile teams. By tailoring retrospective formats to team needs, defining success through evolving team expectations, building trust, empowering autonomy, and mastering conflict resolution, Scrum Masters can effectively lead their teams toward sustained success. Vasco Duarte and Mateusz’s conversation serves as a compelling guide for Scrum Masters seeking to enhance their practices and better support their teams.

Notable Quotes:

• “My favorite retrospective format is the one that suits the team best.” – Mateusz Komander (02:35)
• “Do you believe that this retrospective is for you? Good one. Can we try it one more time or would you like to experiment with different approach?” – Mateusz Komander (04:50)
• “They came out of the session so happy and they showed me so, so huge insights they from that session that it was very, very heartwarming.” – Mateusz Komander (09:30)
• “Scrum Masters needs to focus on to be able to keep the team going and collaborative.” – Mateusz Komander (11:10)

Stay Connected:

For more actionable advice and inspiring conversations with Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches worldwide, subscribe to the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast. Don't forget to rate and review the podcast on Stitcher or iTunes to support the community of Agile practitioners.