In introduction to becoming a Certified Scrum Trainer. My Story on becoming a CST. Current requirements and expectations. What to look for in a mentor. Webinar with Discussing Agile

1. CST Voyage and Mentoring
We start at 8:30 pm IST, 17:00 CET
Photo: The Road Not Taken, by Simon Matzinger Public Domain
Peter Stevens
@peterstev
www.saat-network.ch
(CC-BY-SA-NC)

2. CST Voyage and Mentoring
How I became a CST and How I can help you
Photo: The Road Not Taken, by Simon Matzinger Public Domain
Peter Stevens
@peterstev
www.saat-network.ch
(CC-BY-SA-NC)

3. Personal Agility
Get off the hamster wheel
and into the drivers seat!
Peter Stevens and Maria Matarelli
What Every Coach, Manager, Working Professional, Leader,
Executive, and Business Owner Needs to Know About
Maximizing Performance ...
My goal is to inspire you to transform your world
peter@saat-network.net
@peterstev
“Mr. What Really Matters”

4. Who is in the room?
• Who is an Agile Coach or Trainer?
• Who has taught a CSM-like class?
• Who has co-taught a CSM class with a CST?
• Are there any CSTs or CECs in the room?

5. What is the challenge of becoming a CST?
• In a moment, I will invite you to discuss this question in small groups
• You will have 5 minutes to discuss
• Please designate a speaker
• After 5 minutes I will ask the speaker of each group to share your key
findings.

6. What is the challenge of becoming a CST?

7. What is the challenge of becoming a CST?
• The bar is very high
• You need a lot of experience
• You need recommendations from other CSTs
• It can be difficult to find co-trainers
• It can be difficult to find mentors

8. Let’s explore becoming a CST…
My Story
Requirements to
become a CST
Finding a mentor

9. How and why I became a CST
• My first public class convinced me I wanted to be a trainer
• How I got my co-trainings
• Turbulence in the Scrum Alliance
• Why did I become a CST in the Scrum Alliance
• The TAC (Trainer Acceptance Community) Today
• What happened after I became a CST

10. How and why I became a CST
• My first public class convinced me I wanted to be a trainer
• How I got my co-trainings
• Turbulence in the Scrum Alliance
• Why did I become a CST in the Scrum Alliance
• The TAC (Trainer Acceptance Community) Today
• What happened after I became a CST

11. Requirements for becoming a CST
• Scrum Alliance Requirements
• TAC Expectations
• What you need to co-train with someone

12. Scrum Alliance Requirements
• Demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of Scrum concepts, practices, and principles.
• Hold an active Certified Scrum Professional® designation from Scrum Alliance.
• Have extensive hands-on experience implementing Scrum inside organizations as a ScrumMaster,
product owner, or team member.
• Have taught Scrum in a co-training partnership with a CST or independently in a noncertified
context meeting the following requirements:
• Taught a minimum of 100 students
• Hosted a minimum of 10 multi-day ScrumMaster training sessions
• Hold the Certified Scrum Product Owner® designation if you wish to train CSPO® courses.
• You may not be a trainer for, or participate in teaching classes for, any Scrum certification body
other than Scrum Alliance.
https://www.scrumalliance.org/certifications/trainers/cst-certification

13. Scrum Alliance Application Process
• Complete the application and provide all the requested supporting
materials, including the $250 application fee.
• Your application will be prescreened by Scrum Alliance staff
• reviewers from the TAC will conduct a formal review of your application.
• Denied -> 6 month waiting period before resubmission
• Approved -> Invited to f2f interview with the “Interview and Certification Panel”
• Interview results
• Approved -> Pay the fee, sign the agreement, you are a CST
• Denied -> 6 month waiting period
• Provisional (?)
See also https://www.scrumalliance.org/scrum/media/ScrumAllianceMedia/Files%20and%20PDFs/Certifications/CST/CST-Certification-Process.docx

14. TAC Expectations

15. What do you need offer to co-train with someone?
Why might a CST not want to let
you train > 50% in their class?
• The often sell themselves and their
expertise more than the CSM
• Bait and switch is bad
• Selling you is hard
• Risk to their reputation: Are you really
ready to fly the airplane?
Why might a CST co-train with
you?
• The goodness of his/her heart
• They may want to come to your region
• They like you and they like working with
you
• You have something special to offer (e.g.
Scrum 4 HW)
• You have a business case

16. Finding a mentor
• What does a mentor do?
• Why is it hard to find a mentor?
• Are you ready for CST mentoring?
• Do’s and don'ts in looking for a mentor

17. What does a mentor do?
• A mentor has been there before
• A mentor shares his/her knowledge & experience
• A mentor coaches (but does more than hold up the mirror)
• A mentor makes introductions
• A mentor has the mentees best interest at heart

18. Why is it hard to find a mentor?
• All the reasons why a CST is hesitant
• Many candidates are not that serious
• Many candidates cannot fill a class

19. Are you ready for CST mentoring?
• This is what I look for:
• You are serious about becoming a CST
• You have read and understood the criteria for becoming a Certified Scrum Trainer
according to the Scrum Alliance
• You have taught at least one CSM-like course
• You have prepared your training materials to teach a CSM
• You have humility about your own knowledge and willingness to learn from others
• You have a willingness to share and support other Aspirants on their voyage
• Commitment to the program
• If you want to co-train and teach more than 50% of the class…
• You can organize CSM courses and attract at least 10 participants each

20. Do’s and don'ts in looking for a mentor
• Do go to Scrum Gatherings
• Do Contact trainers individually
• Do Make yourself visible on the
internet
• Do make sure the Trainer is
clear on the criteria for
recommending you
• Follow @ScrumTrainers
• Do not spam the trainers!
• Don’t assume that you know
everything
• Watch out for:
• Trainers who promise to get you
through the TAC if you take their
mentoring program

21. Q&A
Photo © leonardo viti - fotolia

22. Peter Stevens Mentoring Program
“I want you to have an easier
time than I did”

23. Peter Stevens Mentoring Program:
What you get:
• Access to monthly supervision &
“peer-vision” call with Peter Stevens
and fellow CST aspirants.
• Approximately 1 to 1.5 hours per
month. Ask any question you want
during this call.
• Right to attend my public CSM or
CSPO classes or online workshops as
an observer (worth CHF 950 to 2’510,
per course depending on the course
and venue)
• Right to attend my online PAS
Personal Agility System Workshops
(worth CHF 1’000 per workshop)
• Access to my CSM & CSPO Materials
• Access to community Trello board,
Forum and Slack channel for easy
communication and discussion
• My commitment to help you get ready
• My commitment to recommend you as
soon as you are ready
• Clear guidance on how to improve if I
am not ready to recommend you.
• Right to attend CST Aspirants Summit
• My help in finding other co-training
opportunities

24. For information or to apply:
• https://saat-network.ch/cst
• peter@saat-network.ch
• @peterstev

25. Thank you!