2026-07-06
Stop Blurring Lines: Why Scrum Masters Shouldn't Do 1-on-1s
Unpopular opinion: As a Scrum Master or Agile Coach, doing 121s with the team members is a bad idea. 👇
I don't mean talking with them privately when needed of course. I'm talking about these (bi)weekly recurring events in Outlook. Because do you know who is usually the only other person with whom they're having recurring 121s?
→ Their manager.
We need to stop complaining about our role being unclear and confusing if we're sending contradictory messages. Don't act as their manager (even with the best intentions) if you don't want to be seen as one... unless you want to? 💁🏻♂️
20
12
View on
TOP COMMENTS
I like to reach out to team members asking them for an advice or a. Insights. It reverses the steam from you looking downward as if you would be an informal +1 to make the person being the adviser in the relation.
Jord
I’ve got into the habit of holding face-to-face meetings with team members every quarter. In reality, even when there’s a high level of trust within the team, certain types of people tend not to let on about their problems (often a cultural issue). Organising a 30-minute meeting, even just to chat about the weather, helps to bring to light certain issues that take time to surface. I believe that a meeting planned in advance, even if there’s nothing specific to discuss, is a good way to ensure ongoing contact with all team members, especially the more reserved ones. 🖖 … more
Alain