Navigating New Waters: A Scrum Master's Guide to Building a Strong Team

A new squad is forming and the product has been assigned. The PO and some of the Developers are all new, however some have been within the company for some time. You are the newly assigned Scrum Master so this is how you're going to prepare yourself for the challenges that await them.

Introduction:

Stepping into the role of a Scrum Master for a newly formed squad can be both exhilarating and challenging. As the orchestrator of team dynamics, your ability to foster collaboration, communication, and productivity is crucial to the success of the project. In this article, we will delve into the strategies and approaches you can employ to ensure that your team is well-prepared to tackle the obstacles that lie ahead.

A: Setting the Stage

Upon assuming the role of Scrum Master for the new squad, your first task is to lay the foundation for a cohesive and high-performing team. This involves creating an inclusive environment where both seasoned employees and newcomers feel welcomed and valued. By encouraging open communication and knowledge sharing, you can facilitate the exchange of diverse perspectives and experiences, leading to a more robust team dynamic.

B: The Five Key Stages Strategy

To guide your team towards success, it is essential to follow a structured approach. These five key stages serve as a roadmap for nurturing team growth and development: Assess, Educate, Facilitate, Catalyze, and Balance

- Assess: Begin by evaluating the strengths, weaknesses, and dynamics within the team. Identify areas of improvement and opportunities for growth.

- Educate: Empower team members with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their roles. Offer training sessions, workshops, or resources to enhance their capabilities.

- Facilitate: Foster collaboration and communication by providing a platform for team members to share ideas, feedback, and concerns. Encourage active participation and engagement.

- Catalyze: Drive innovation and creativity by challenging the status quo and inspiring team members to think outside the box. Encourage experimentation and risk-taking.

- Balance: Maintain equilibrium within the team by addressing conflicts, promoting diversity, and ensuring that all voices are heard. Strive for a harmonious work environment where everyone feels respected and valued.

Below, I am summarising some methods and exercises that are going to help you embarking this journey:

As a Scrum Master, your role is not just about managing the present but also preparing the team for the future. Embrace change as a constant in the agile environment and encourage a culture of continuous improvement. Reflect on past experiences, learn from mistakes, and adapt your strategies to meet evolving challenges.

C: Implement Lean Portfolio management for aligned autonomy

Values: Ask the squad -> What values do you want to integrate within the team? e.g.

1. Respect for people’s opinions, ideas, time and working style
2. Continuous improvement
3. Think big, build trust, work smart, be open and spread joy
4. Scrum Values could be part of it

Principles: Ask the squad - What culture do you want to see within the team? What’s your rule book? How would you like to have the right piece of information at the right time? What would you want to achieve in the next quarter? For example:

1. Pull JIT (Just in time) items in the sprint. and do not over-commit. Only produce what’s needed.
2. JIDOKA- Create a clear and visible picture e.g. whenever we see a problem, we stop, we talk about it, document it and improve in the next iteration.
3. Working Agreements/Group Norms/Squad’s Rulebook

Standardization (Methods and Processes): How would you like to have the right piece of information at the right time? How do you imagine an ideal software or process you’re working with?How would you like to have the feedback in place and how often? Standardize the visual management of product, people and process e.g. Define the way to identify and share the problems, challenges, ideas, feedback, experiments; Develop and sustain the squad mission, culture, and unity, Set clear targets, Have end-to-end roles & responsibilities defined, Create a change backlog and record outcomes, Develop Agile Engineering skills, Big Room Planning aka roadmap and release planning, Pre-planning and post-planning activities, Define laws of customer, squad, and networking with other squads; Workshops, Teaching hours, Partnering with Tribe, PO, DevOps, Support team, HR and others; Define feedback and promotion cycles, CICD scheduling and pipeline etc.

Use various Tools for planning and communication e.g.

Have visual planning boards( Physical/Scrum/Kanban boards, Product Vision Board, Big room Planning Walls, Release Charts, Capabilities Matrix, Tribe/Squad Newsletter, Feature dependency Map), RACI, Meeting Walls, Communication Process Model, Personal Maps, Documentation, Impediments charts, Scaling map, OKRs and KPIS etc.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, navigating the complexities of a new team as a Scrum Master requires a blend of empathy, leadership, and strategic thinking. By fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, and adaptability, you can empower your team to overcome obstacles and achieve success. Remember, the journey towards building a strong team is a continuous process that requires dedication, patience, and a willingness to evolve. Good luck on your Scrum Master journey!