Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile Storytelling from the Trenches

Episode Title: Why Your Scrum Master Job Needs a Reset with Every Leadership Change
Host: Vasco Duarte
Guest: Joelle Tegven
Release Date: July 14, 2025

Introduction

In this insightful episode of the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast, host Vasco Duarte engages with Joelle Tegven, an experienced Agile Coach and Scrum Master, to discuss the critical need for Scrum Masters to realign their strategies with every change in leadership. Drawing from her 15-year nonlinear career in software development and Agile coaching, Joelle shares valuable experiences and lessons that are crucial for maintaining effectiveness in dynamic organizational environments.

Joelle Tegven’s Background

Joelle begins by outlining her journey into the Agile realm. She started her career as a developer on smaller teams before advancing to a managerial position. Her passion for the people-centric aspects of problem-solving led her to pursue Scrum Master certification after a company downsizing prompted her to reassess her career path. Since then, Joelle has oscillated between managerial roles, Agile coaching, and occasional Scrum Master positions, enriching her perspective with diverse experiences.

A Challenging Experience as a Scrum Master

Joelle recounts a particularly challenging period during a coaching assignment at a small startup in the USA. Initially brought in by a VP keen on driving significant changes amid a series of mergers and acquisitions, Joelle implemented innovative Agile practices to foster high-performing teams. However, shortly after her arrival, the original VP departed, and a more conservative leader took over. Despite the leadership shift, Joelle continued her prior change initiatives without recalibrating to align with the new VP’s priorities.

“I kept trying to keep up that pace of change and to really innovate in what they were doing... I just kept charging down that same path.”
— Joelle Tegven [05:06]

This misalignment led to subtle pushbacks from the team and upper management. Feedback ranged from non-committal responses like, “I’m not so sure what I think of that,” to more direct resistance. Additionally, one-on-one meetings with upper leadership began to be frequently canceled, signaling a disconnect between Joelle’s initiatives and the new leadership’s expectations.

Recognizing and Responding to Feedback

Vasco prompts Joelle to delve deeper into the nature of the feedback she received and how it manifested in her daily interactions. Joelle highlights the importance of not solely relying on immediate supervisors for guidance, especially when higher-level leadership may have differing priorities. The cancellation of meetings and hesitant feedback were indicators that her approach was no longer in sync with the organizational direction.

Lessons Learned: The Importance of Realigning with Leadership

Reflecting on the experience, Joelle emphasizes the necessity of treating leadership changes as an opportunity to redeploy and reassess one’s role and strategies. She points to the concept presented in the book The First 90 Days, advocating for a period of re-evaluation and alignment with new leaders’ visions and objectives.

“Whenever you get a new person above you up the chain, it's like your job starts over again. You have to go back and discover who they are and what motivates them...”
— Joelle Tegven [06:38]

Additionally, Joelle underscores the importance of gauging the organizational climate and the receptiveness to change. Pushing too aggressively for change can foster resistance, potentially positioning the Scrum Master as a hindrance rather than a facilitator of improvement.

Practical Steps for Scrum Masters During Leadership Changes

Vasco and Joelle discuss actionable strategies for Scrum Masters navigating leadership transitions:

1. Engage in Active Listening: Before implementing changes, interview new leaders to understand their priorities, vision, and desired areas of focus. This ensures that your initiatives are aligned with the broader organizational goals.

2. Assess Receptiveness to Change: Evaluate how open the team and leadership are to new Agile practices. Tailoring your approach based on their readiness can mitigate resistance and foster a more collaborative environment.

3. Communicate the 'Why': Clearly articulating the reasons behind Agile transformations helps in securing buy-in from both leadership and team members. As Vasco notes, the motivation for change must emanate from leadership to ensure cohesive and sustained adoption.

“You can be trying to do continuous improvement or continuous integration, but also the framework that that happens in makes a really big difference. Like why are we doing this thing? Not just how are we doing this thing.”
— Joelle Tegven [11:01]

4. Reiterate Alignment with Leadership Goals: Continuously align your Agile initiatives with the evolving objectives of the leadership to maintain relevance and support for your efforts.

Concluding Insights

Joelle Tegven's experience serves as a poignant reminder that the role of a Scrum Master is highly contingent on the organizational context and leadership dynamics. By proactively realigning with new leadership, actively listening to feedback, and clearly communicating the purpose behind Agile practices, Scrum Masters can navigate changes effectively and continue to drive team success.

Vasco and Joelle conclude the discussion by reinforcing the idea that change is inherently a people-driven process. Understanding and aligning with the motivations of leadership and team members is essential for fostering an environment where Agile methodologies can thrive.

Key Takeaways

• Realign with New Leadership: Every leadership change necessitates a reassessment of your strategies and alignment with the new leader’s goals.
• Active Listening and Engagement: Engage with new leaders to understand their vision and priorities before implementing or continuing change initiatives.
• Communicate the 'Why': Emphasizing the reasons behind Agile practices fosters greater acceptance and support across the organization.
• Assess Organizational Readiness: Tailor your approach based on the team’s and leadership’s openness to change to mitigate resistance.

This episode offers Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches invaluable insights into managing their roles amidst leadership transitions, ensuring sustained effectiveness and team cohesion in evolving organizational landscapes.