Scrum is a popular framework used by organisations to handle complex projects. Scrum masters are at the heart of the framework, as they ensure that the framework is followed efficiently. The basic scrum master training covers a few concepts, but mastering the job role requires you to start your SASM certification journey. It is time for scrum masters to earn the advanced certification if they feel they are unable to influence the team in handling deeper delivery challenges. The current article lists skills that the advanced scrum master should master to lead the team successfully.

Responsibilities of the scrum master

Before going deeper into skills that a scrum master should learn to handle complex projects, I am just throwing light on the responsibilities handled by the scrum master. Exploring these responsibilities ahead of advanced certification will help the scrum master understand how the new skills will make their job much easier.

• Educate the team about safety concepts: The scrum master should handle scaling agile practices at the team level, such as delivering through scrums and building a quality product that matches customer needs. They need to educate the team about enhancing the flow of the project through continuous improvement.
• Conduct scrum events: The scrum master is also responsible for conducting various scrum events, such as sprints, retrospectives, and reviews, to guide the team in achieving their goals.
• Collaboration between the teams: The scrum master is also responsible for coaching the team members for effective collaboration, problem-solving, and taking accountability for their work.
• Adherence to agile practices: The scrum master should also make sure that they adhere to agile practices and methodologies throughout product development.
• Remove bottlenecks: The scrum master is responsible for identifying and removing bottlenecks for the team in the project progress.

Skills that an advanced scrum master needs

Facilitate complex discussions

Everyday stand-up meetings need not always be project updates. The meetings can turn complex, and the scrum master should learn to guide the conversation of the team members using different techniques. The stand-up meeting could be anything regarding sprint blockers, stakeholder alignment or priority conflicts. The advanced scrum master should master advanced facilitation skills to build collaboration between the team members and support product delivery without any friction.

Coaching team’s accountability

The advanced scrum master should also learn to coach individuals to take accountability for their work. The advanced scrum master should focus on understanding the working style of each member in the team and identify their resistance. The coaching skills of the scrum master help them guide and direct the team to take accountability for their work. Individual accountability is very important for sustainable product delivery in the organisation. With these coaching skills, an advanced scrum master can help the team member grow independently without depending on oversight of the management.

Real-time adoption

Agile product development is all about change. The advanced scrum master should have the ability to adopt and guide the team to adopt the change in real time. The advanced scrum master should learn to identify impediments and adjust the sprint plan to maximise project delivery.

Advanced product backlog management

The advanced scrum masters use the story mapping technique to prioritise the product backlog based on crucial activities. The scrum master should be able to break the product backlog into tasks and user activities and visually map them for the team. The team will know how users interact with the product. The tasks in the product backlog should be prioritised based on team dependencies and tasks. The advanced scrum master should be able to prioritise the tasks using the WSJF technique. They should regularly review and change the priorities using the technique to ensure the most valuable work is completed first.

Problem-solving

When the teams are working in large collaborative environments, conflicts between them are inevitable. The scrum master should learn advanced problem resolution techniques to maintain a healthy and dynamic environment among the team members. The advanced scrum certifications help the scrum master to navigate conflicts constructively with greater clarity. They need to master the ability to turn conflicts into opportunities for learning. The ability of the scrum master to turn conflicts into collaboration will make them a trusted leader.

Advanced team dynamics and coaching

The ability of the scrum master to understand their team’s maturity helps them to guide the team through different stages of development. They can tailor their coaching approach to the team’s current stage and elevate their performance. They need to build a strong relationship with the team and share knowledge with them frequently, allowing them to handle complex tasks.

Product alignment and value focus

The advanced Scrum Master should master leadership skills to facilitate alignment between the Scrum team and the product owner. By connecting product backlog refinement with customer value, the scrum master reduces the wastage of effort and creates a shared understanding of product goals. By creating the right alignment between the product owner and Scrum team, the Scrum Master can make sure the team will remain focused on developing customer-friendly products in spite of short product cycles and rapid changes.

Takeaway

The advanced scrum master should be an expert in handling project management tools and establishing the right collaboration within the Scrum team. The scrum master should move beyond the basics and refine their skills continuously to drive the team through a successful path in complex scenarios.

Amelia Hart, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.