A list of challenges faced by scrum masters from my interaction (Coaching/mentoring/Training) with them. Going through these challenges should help leaders to introspect and work with their scrum masters

1. Balaji Sathram, Agile Coach
sathrambalaji@gmail.com

2. The views and opinions expressed in
this presentation are my thoughts
based on my experience and do not
necessarily reflect with my position
with any of the organization I
worked with.
© Balaji Sathram, 2017 2

3. RESPECT OPENNESS
FOCUS COMMITTMENT
COURAGE
© Balaji Sathram, 2017 3

4. AGENDA
Challenges With
�Self
�Team
�Product Owner
�Distributed team
�Middle Managers
�Leadership
�Organization
�Other teams
Open for Discussion
4© Balaji Sathram, 2017

5. �Patience
�Tools and Techniques
�Self-awareness
�Knowledge gap
�Emotional intelligence
�Theory VS Practice
�Doing VS Being
�Ownership
�Accountability
5© Balaji Sathram, 2017

6. �Conflicts
�Competency issues
�Behavioral issues
�Behavioral Debt
�Updating the KANBAN board/ALM
Tool
�Raising impediments @Right time
�Volunteer Participation
�Ownership and Accountability
© Balaji Sathram, 2017 6

7. PRODUCT OWNER
�Getting quality user stories
�Business value defined for each story
�PROXY
�Availability
�Product Vision
© Balaji Sathram, 2017 7

8. �Communication
�Facilitation
�Focus
�Removing Impediments
�Coaching
�No personal touch
�Time zone differences
�Cultural differences
© Balaji Sathram, 2017 8

9. �Support for SMs and POs
�Decentralization of the POWER
�Create Safe environment to FAIL
�Attending all scrum ceremonies
�Delivery focused
�100% Utilization trap
�Treating SM as Project manager,
Release manager and Admin for
the team members
© Balaji Sathram, 2017 9

10. �Filtering the work-Discovery
�Comparing Teams
�Make leaders, not followers
�Create culture to experiment
�Psychological Safe environment
�Walk the talk
�Lead by example
�Team hierarchical Structure
© Balaji Sathram, 2017 10

11. �Policies
�Company-Location
�Focus on Culture
© Balaji Sathram, 2017 11

12. �Dependencies
�HR-Recruitment
�Vendor management
�Infrastructure
�Release management
�Change management
© Balaji Sathram, 2017 12

15. sathrambalaji@gmail.com
@sathrambalaji