As a Scrum Master, your number one job is Scrum team effectiveness. Effectiveness generally means “no matter what, getting it right, if not the first time, quickly.” This is an acknowledgment that stuff can’t just be easily planned—there’s always complexity, unknowns, and risk in what we do. A strong Scrum team encounters these problems and deals with them effectively. It all begins with the daily Scrum.

But how do you, as a Scrum Master, help your team achieve this level of effectiveness?

Learn more: The Scrum Guide

The Real Purpose of the Daily Scrum

The daily Scrum is more than just a 15-minute meeting where everyone stands around and talks about what they did yesterday. It serves two critical purposes:

1. To make the work of the sprint visible.
2. To provide a way for the developers to evaluate where they are with regard to the sprint goal.

When you understand these purposes, you can transform your daily Scrum from a routine check-in to a powerful tool for driving team effectiveness.

Learn more: Keep Your Daily Scrum Short

Listening: Your Secret Weapon to Scrum Team Effectiveness

During the daily Scrum, your most important job is to listen. Yes, listen to everything. The developers might be discussing code, dependencies, blockers, or even just a funny bug they found. It doesn’t matter—everything they say is a clue.

But why is listening so crucial? Because it allows you to identify the team’s needs in real-time. If a developer mentions they’re stuck, don’t wait for them to ask for help. If you sense tension between team members, don’t ignore it. The daily Scrum is your window into the team’s world. Use it.

What Should You Listen For?

1. Mentions of Blockers or Impediments

• Example: A developer might say, “I’m stuck on this task because I’m waiting for approval from another team.”
• What to Do: Take note of any blockers mentioned. These are red flags that need immediate attention. You can help by following up with the other team or finding a workaround to keep the work moving forward.

2. Concerns About Deadlines

• Example: Someone might mention, “I’m not sure we’ll be able to finish this feature by the end of the sprint.”
• What to Do: This is a sign that the sprint goal might be at risk. Engage the team in a quick discussion to assess the situation and consider re-prioritizing tasks or bringing in additional help.

3. Unclear Responsibilities

• Example: A team member might say, “I thought John was handling that part, but it looks like it’s not done yet.”
• What to Do: Misunderstandings about who is responsible for what can cause delays. Clarify roles and ensure everyone knows what they’re accountable for. If needed, adjust assignments to get the work back on track.

4. Hints of Team Tension or Frustration

• Example: You might hear subtle signs of frustration, like a developer saying, “I keep running into the same issue with this component, and it’s slowing me down.”
• What to Do: Don’t ignore these hints. They could indicate deeper issues within the team. Check in with the individual after the Scrum to see if they need help or if there’s a pattern that needs addressing.

5. Lack of Progress

• Example: A team member might report, “I didn’t make much progress on my task yesterday.”
• What to Do: Repeated lack of progress could signal a larger problem, like unclear requirements or external dependencies. Investigate further to understand the root cause and help the team find a solution.

6. Opportunities for Improvement

• Example: Someone might suggest, “It would be easier if we had more automated tests for this module.”
• What to Do: These are golden opportunities to make long-term improvements. Encourage the team to consider how they can implement these suggestions, either in the current sprint or in future work.

7. Positive Developments

• Example: A developer might share, “I found a way to optimize this function, and it’s saving us a lot of time.”
• What to Do: Celebrate these wins! They boost morale and can often be shared with the rest of the team as a best practice.

By actively listening for these cues during the daily Scrum, you can address issues before they escalate, keep the team aligned with the sprint goal, and ensure that progress continues smoothly.

If you can think of other key phrases to listen for, please add them in the comments below!

Taking Action Without Waiting

Once you’ve listened and gathered information, don’t sit back and wait for someone to tell you what to do. Take the initiative. If you hear about a problem, say, “Hey, I intend to track this problem, track down this person, follow up with that person…” and then do it.

Being proactive shows your team that you’re there to support them. It also helps remove obstacles quickly, which is essential for maintaining the team’s momentum.

Making the Work Visible

One of the main purposes of the daily Scrum is to make the work of the sprint visible. But what does that really mean?

Visibility isn’t just about knowing who’s working on what. It’s about understanding the state of the work. Are tasks moving smoothly from “in progress” to “done”? Are there any bottlenecks? Is there a particular task that’s been stuck in the same spot for days?

When work is visible, the team can quickly spot issues and address them before they become bigger problems. As the Scrum Master, you play a crucial role in facilitating this visibility. Encourage transparency, and don’t hesitate to ask questions that bring clarity to the work being discussed.

Evaluating Progress Toward the Sprint Goal

The second purpose of the daily Scrum is for the developers to evaluate where they are with regard to the sprint goal. Every day, the team should be asking themselves: Are we on track to meet our sprint goal? If not, what’s holding us back?

Your role here is to help the team stay focused on that goal. If you notice conversations drifting away from the sprint goal, gently steer them back. Remind the team that every decision they make should be aligned with achieving that goal.

The Art of Problem Solving for the Effective Scrum Team

Problems are inevitable in any sprint. The real test of a Scrum team’s effectiveness is how they handle those problems.

When a problem comes up during the daily Scrum, don’t let it linger. Encourage the team to address it head-on. If it’s something that can’t be resolved immediately, ensure there’s a plan in place to tackle it as soon as possible.

Remember, your job is to help the team get it right quickly, even if they didn’t get it right the first time. The sooner a problem is identified and addressed, the sooner the team can get back on track.

Supporting Your Team Every Day

Being a Scrum Master means being the backbone of your team’s daily operations. You’re the one who listens, takes action, and ensures that everything is aligned with the sprint goal.

Every daily Scrum is an opportunity for you to help your team become more effective. Don’t waste it. Listen actively, make work visible, help the team evaluate their progress, and be the problem solver they need.

Conclusion: Your Role in Team Effectiveness

To sum it up, your role as a Scrum Master is all about making your team more effective. The daily Scrum is your tool for achieving this. By focusing on making work visible and helping the team evaluate their progress toward the sprint goal, you’re setting them up for success.

So, the next time you’re in a daily Scrum, remember: listen, take notes, and take action. Your team’s effectiveness depends on it.

By embracing these principles, you’ll not only help your team navigate the complexities of their work but also ensure that they’re always moving toward their goals, one day at a time.