Scrum Master Anti-Patterns

Even though the current crop of Scrum techniques and concepts are quite straightforward to understand, mastering their everyday execution can become challenging. This is because changing habits that are deeply ingrained in our minds and bodies will be difficult overnight.

The good news, however, is that Agile participants, as well as practitioners, are now able to eliminate & recognize the various behaviors that are detrimental to the Agile method of working & thinking. These behaviors are what you call generally ‘anti-patterns’. Therefore, in this guide, we’ll look at some of the most common anti-patterns of the Scrum Master.

What Do You Mean By Scrum Master Anti-Patterns?

Scrum Master anti-patterns are defined by habits exhibited frequently by the Scrum Master that are ultimately harmful or ineffective for the Scrum team. These anti-patterns tend to occur throughout various Scrum Events, thereby negatively affecting the Scrum Team's performance and ability.

Sometimes, Agile practitioners exhibit these shortcomings, making the overall procedure for solving much more complicated.

The List Of Scrum Master Anti-Patterns

1. Tailoring To An Excessive Degree

It should be realized that even though a minimal deviation from the usual practices is acceptable, excessive tailoring of a process that has already been defined (based on frequency & scope) can lead to issues being faced such as team fatigue.

For instance, if you constantly change the overall duration of the Sprints, change the location of daily Scrums, or even alter the meeting frequency, all these alterations can directly affect the entire team's performance.

While some of the changes might look insignificant at the surface level, the Scrum team members can begin to lose confidence in the team's overall ability to execute the project because of the needless distractions introduced by the Scrum Master.

2. Being Complacent With The Status Quo

Contrasting to the earlier mentioned anti-pattern, if a Scrum Master doesn’t like changes and wants to avoid alterations at all costs, this can also create problems for the Scrum Team. Such a stance will lead to complacency among team members. The main key here is to maintain a balance between the frequency and magnitude of the improvement ideas that are being implemented.

The process of Scrum encourages the team to always inspect and adapt to the changing procedure of the project. However, it doesn’t mention how much or how often the changes must be implemented. Therefore, it’s up to the team to decide the type of changes that are digestible and meaningful, which will lead to positive results. And that’s the job of the Scrum Master to overview this process and encourage the correct mindset among all the team members.

3. Proceeds To Solve Problems For The Team

More often than not, Scrum Masters tend to take up issues or problems that the Scrum Team themselves should be vowing to solve, which can be counterproductive in the long-run. This is because it sets a bad precedent for the team to pass off problems to the Scrum Master instead of trying to resolve them independently.

When the team solves problems themselves, it helps the team members to learn from the experience and thereby improve upon their working procedures. But, if the Scrum Master overtakes all of these issues that the team is facing and doesn’t let them solve their problems, then it can negatively affect the team’s problem-solving capabilities.

4. Tries To Compete Against Other Scrum Teams

Sometimes, Scrum Masters tend to motivate their teams by comparing the performance of various teams within the same company or organization. Such a move can be extremely damaging to the team’s morale.

Team motivation using stress or fear can prove useful in the short term but will cause extreme distress within the team in the long run. Even though trying to outperform other Scrum Teams can act as a natural inclination for teams to get a sense of winning mentality, following this procedure over a lengthy period can lead to burnout within the team.

The job of the Scrum Master should be to extract performance by showering a sense of mastery and accomplishment, not by fear or stress.

5. Prevents Any Conflict Within The Team

Even though it’s basic human psychology to be safe and secure within his or her boundaries, avoiding conflict among the team members instead of trying to solve them is a major deterrent for any Scrum Master.

If the Scrum Master is inexperienced in this regard, he or she should seek assistance from the team members.

6. Follows A Similar Retrospective Format Every Sprint

When a team continuously works together for multiple Sprints and delivers successful results, the team members can start experiencing complacency. One of the main reasons behind such an issue is that the same retrospective format used in every Sprint can become repetitive or stale after some time. Using the same procedure repeatedly can stifle new ideas and innovation within the team members.

To avoid such an issue, the Scrum Master should always change the format every two to three Sprints, so that the team can stay motivated over an extended period.

7. Scrum Master Doesn’t Like To Be Questioned Or Challenged

Certain Scrum Masters out there don’t like team members (either external or internal) to question their decisions because they feel it’s an attack on their domain instead of trying to push forward with an opportunity for improvement. That’s why when such a type of behavior is identified, the best way to approach the Scrum Master would be to ask him or her the reason behind it, which will help clear any confusion.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, Scrum is a team effort, and therefore if you and your team want to succeed in the given project, then communication with the Scrum Master is very essential. Rigorous communication and constructive criticism of your Scrum Master regarding any anti-patterns can help the Scrum team to achieve better results.
You shouldn’t let any of these Scrum Master anti-patterns affect the team’s performance and ability, so being dynamic and proactive can help you obtain optimized performance. At Simpliaxis, our Certified Scrum Master® (CSM®) Certification Training equips professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of Scrum, empowering them to drive success in their projects and contribute positively to their teams.