Concepts
When a Scrum team faces issues or discrepancies, the ScrumMaster’s effective coaching methods can bring the situation back on track. In this article, we will discuss two intervention techniques – ‘active listening’ and ‘powerful questions’ and illustrate their utilization in a Scrum context.
I. Active Listening
Active listening is an essential coaching technique wherein the ScrumMaster devotes full attention to the team members or stakeholders. It includes understanding, processing, reflecting, and then responding using verbal and non-verbal cues.
Example:
Team Member A reports about a problem they have encountered during the product development sprint. The ScrumMaster should attentively listen to Team Member A’s problem, instead of jumping into conclusions or offering straight-away solutions. In this way, the ScrumMaster acknowledges Team Member A’s problem and gains a more profound understanding of the situation.
Role of Active Listening in Scrum
- Promotes Empathy: It provides the ScrumMaster a chance to understand the team’s issues from their perspective, fostering empathy within the team.
- Aids Problem Solving: It helps identify the root causes of an issue, paving the way for more effective problem-solving.
- Builds Trust: It conveys to the team members that their opinions matter, boosting their confidence, and trust.
II. Powerful Questions
Powerful questions are open-ended queries that stimulate, provoke, and inspire deeper introspection. They are often posed by the ScrumMaster to inspire team members to explore creative solutions to their problems.
Example:
In a situation where the team struggles with low productivity, the ScrumMaster could ask, ‘What can we change in our current process to improve the team’s productivity?’ Instead of telling the team what should be done, this approach promotes self-organization and empowerment.
Role of Powerful Questions in Scrum
- Encourages Self-Organization: It inspires team members to figure out their problems rather than relying on the ScrumMaster for all answers.
- Promotes Collaboration: It initiates healthy discussions, promoting collaboration and team building.
- Stimulates Critical Thinking: It fuels creativity and innovation, enabling the team to approach problems from different angles.
Table of Comparison
| Coaching Technique | Active Listening | Powerful Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To understand and empathize with team issues | To inspire self-organization and critical thinking |
| Example | Taking the time to understand a team member’s problem before proposing solutions | Asking open-ended questions to provoke thought and discussion |
| Role in Scrum | Promotes empathy, aids problem solving, and builds trust | Encourages self-organization, promotes collaboration, and stimulates critical thinking |
In conclusion, the application of careful listening and mindful questioning will enhance the effectiveness of ScrumMaster interventions. Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM) candidates should continually practice and refine these skills to gain successful outcomes in the Scrum environment.
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
True or False: The effectiveness of a coaching technique depends on the intervention needed.
True
False
The appropriate use of coaching techniques requires an understanding of:
- a) The desired outcome of the intervention
- b) The willingness of the team to change
- c) Their current way of working
- d) All of the above
Socratic questioning is an appropriate coaching technique for which intervention?
- a) Scenario where the team is resistive to change.
- b) Scenario where the team is struggling with decision making.
- c) Scenario where the Scrum values are not being upheld.
- d) Scenario where the team has limited technical skills.
Which of these is a situational coaching model often used in A-CSM interventions?
- a) GROW model
- b) KANO model
- c) MATRA model
- d) DELTA model
One-on-one coaching is better suited for:
- a) Systems-level interventions
- b) Individual-level interventions
- c) Strategy-level interventions
- d) Process-level interventions
True or False: A good coaching intervention always leads to immediate results.
True
False
When practicing solution-focused coaching, a ScrumMaster:
- a) Identifies problems and provides solutions
- b) Helps the coachee identify their strengths and uses them to find solutions
- c) Ignores the problems and focuses only on the solutions
- d) Decides on solutions without considering the coachee’s input
Which type of coaching intervention approach focuses on improving the collective performance of a team?
- a) Executive Coaching
- b) Team Level Coaching
- c) Systems Level Coaching
- d) One-on-One Coaching
The GROW model of coaching stands for:
- a) Grow, Reflect, Observe, Work
- b) Goals, Reality, Observe, Will
- c) Goals, Reality, Options, Wrap-Up
- d) Grow, Reach, Operate, Wrap-Up
In the context of ScrumMaster coaching, clarifying outcomes, exploring the current situation, identifying options, and defining action steps refers to the:
- a) PESTEL Model
- b) Socratic Method
- c) USEFUL Model
- d) GROW Model
True or False: The coaching technique used in an intervention should always be the same, regardless of the team or individual being coached.
True
False
Which of these strategies can help a ScrumMaster understand which coaching technique to use in an intervention?
- a) Understanding the desired outcome
- b) Understanding the level of experience of the Coachee
- c) Considering the context and nature of the problem
- d) All of the above
Great post! I found the part about using powerful questions very insightful.
Thanks for this write-up. Can someone explain how to use the GROW model in a Scrum context?
I use the GROW model all the time! It really helps steer the team towards self-discovery and solutions.
Really appreciate this blog post, it clarified many doubts!
Has anyone tried using the T-GROW model instead?
Does anyone have examples of using Active Listening techniques during Sprint Reviews?
This article is very helpful, thank you!
Could someone elaborate on using scaling questions in coaching?