Scrum is one of the most common Agile frameworks used today. Agile is the continuous testing and development through the lifecycle of a project to deliver incrementally in lockstep with customer requirements and changes to improve satisfaction.
So, what is Scrum? Scrum teams break their work down into small time periods and tasks called sprints. Scrum masters lead a team integrating team members and the product owner. Scrum facilitates meetings and helps overcome obstacles. At ITC, I learned what it takes to be a Scrum master.
To run the daily Scrum meetings, I asked the team members what they worked on yesterday, what they will be working on today, and if they had any blockers or questions. As the Scrum master, it was my job to help resolve any problems. I also had to be aware of the goals of the daily meeting – to make sure nobody got sidetracked and everyone stayed focused. To close out, I ensured the project owners shared any changes or new requirements based on external factors or insight from the daily meeting.
To prepare for this critical role, I learned that there are eight essential skills that a Scrum master must have:
- Being a servant leader
- Removing impediments
- Resolve any conflicts
- Shield the team
- Coach agile practices
- Report and communicate
- Mentor Scrum processes
- Build self-organizing teams
The Scrum master skills apply beyond leading a professional team. Mastering these skills can apply to your everyday life too. As a young IT professional, the opportunity to lead the daily Scrum meetings helped me stretch beyond my comfort zone as an introvert and challenge myself to listen actively for challenges, conflicts, and opportunities. Learning and hearing from experienced team members helped me grow my professional confidence. In return, I learned how these meetings build the integration points necessary for a high-performing team.
ITC is proud of our Agile approach across our 25+ prime projects and our investment in ongoing education ($5,250 per person per year) which, to date, has resulted in 20+ certified Scrum Masters supporting our customers today. Check our current opportunities to learn about where we’re growing and how we can help your growth like we are with Jahnvi Patel – Summer 2022 CINO intern.
