2024-02-28
True Leadership: Knowing When to Step Back and Let Go
Today the team I'm the Scrum Master for has their Sprint Planning. I can't join due to a training I need to follow. The Product Owner is on holiday. What do we do ? 😱
Well, we just keep it going. The PO defined a Sprint Goal upfront, and the team is totally mature enough to just do it by themselves.
I remember in my first days as a Scrum Master, that i did all I can to just join every single team discussion, and even propose to replan the sessions I couldn't join. And a part of me is afraid that it's still a common practice in some teams. 😓
Especially in the Scrum Master role, being irreplaceable is not a proof of efficiency or quality, but more a proof of the lack of autonomy of your team. Which is highly conflicting with the goal that your team should be able to be efficient in your absence.
If you can't let things go and need to be there for just everything, you're not helping as much as you think… you just became the impediment. ✌
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TOP COMMENTS
The Sprint Goal should have been initially created at least one sprint ago in advance and the PB should be reflective of that by the time of Sprint Planning for the next Sprint
As well as that, the team and stakeholders should have an open door policy to one another so that when the PO is absent, both entities can freely talk to one another to ensure stakeholder expectations are met as much as possible
Patrick
I think leaving the team alone is a good way to gage how well they are able to take responsibility and self-manage - especially in planning. I've intentionally been unavailable for planning sessions to see how they would step up - or fail, and hopefully learn. And I agree with Michael Lloyd's tip of finding that someone to "anchor" the meeting.
Jeppe