Scrum Master Learnings from The Ball Point Game

Recently I’ve written a post about The Ball Point Game and about variations of the game, a game that simulates Scrum with all the sprint ceremonies, such as planning, sprint, review and retrospective. This post emphasizes the learning from a Scrum Master perspective.

Facilitating, Moderating and Leading

As the game simulates Scrum, this includes the role of the Scrum Master as well. As a facilitator you set up the environment in which the game takes place and that the needed tools are present. You ensure everyone understands the rules, that balls are available, that there is a room available and everything else that’s necessary so that the game can take place. In the role of a moderator you guide the team through the meetings as part of the simulation.

In your “hidden leader” – role you be a raw model to the team and encourage them to implement improvements or set additional challenges. You lead the team in a servant way during the simulation as it will be in real life projects.

Keep back and let the team inspect and adapt

After you have ensured everyone understood the rules and the goal, it’s time to keep back and support only when the team asks for it. As a Scrum Master you give the team space to learn what is the best suiting process to them. As in real life projects the team will raise questions and issue, that the team also will find answers to and resolves them. When it comes to self-organizing and performing teams, the key is to empower them and ensure they get the autonomy that is required. Remember that the teams main purpose is to build innovative products in a technical excellent way. Your role as a Scrum Master is, to guide the team there as a servant leader, not telling them what to do but encourage inspect and adapt.

Mentor, Teacher and …

…Coach! Being a teacher or mentor to the team in regards to the agile rules is one part of being Scrum Master or Agil Coach; but it’s as important to be a good coach for the team as well as on an individual level. This is the art of the work that will increase performance and also motivation for the team. Coaching is also a for of leading the team to the direction of innovation, technical excellence and better performance.

Be innovative and up-to-date

The team should work agile, which means ready to welcome change at any time. The same (welcome change) applies for the Scrum Master. It is important to stay updated on latest developments on the market, now tools and regular exchange with peers. Your teams will like new inputs, new perspectives and learning, being innovative and up-to-date is your part in order to support that.