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Scrum master
Elad Sofer
Agile coach
co-founder @ practical-agile
twitter: @eladsof
email: elad@practical-agile.com
blog: http://www.practical-agile.com/our-blog
Connection before content
Physical examination
Respect the sticky note
One item per sticky, use a sharpie
What questions do
you have?
Product Owner workshop by Practical Agile is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Express your preferences
THE biggest problem
The English verb “to manage” was originally derived
from the Italian maneggiare, meaning to handle and
train horses
Scrum master
video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oheekef7oJk
Who is the scrum master?
Scrum master

[dictionary definition]
• Scrum - A framework for managing the
development lifecycle of software products.
• Master - A skilled practitioner of a particular art
or activity.
• A Scrum master - the leader of the Scrum
process & team.
Scrum master Responsibilities
1. Coach the team with Scrum
2. Coach the PO with Scrum
3. Help Facilitate effective ceremonies
4. Help remove impediments
5. Help the team grow
What is on your to do list ?
7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Personal
–Spouse
–Children
–Family
–Friends
–House chores
Product  Project
–Code
–Requirements
–Tests
–Plans
–Support
–Bugs
–Reports
Team  People
–Training
–Teaching
–Mentoring
–Administrative
Communication
–Phone calls
–Meetings
–E-mail
–Proposals
–Blog
–Slides
–Manual
Begging
Reward
Punishment
Doityourself
Leadership
?Performing actions that will inspire change that is aligned with a specific goal. maybe?
BORN
Leaders are not
Leaders are
Grown
Does Leadership
require authority ?
Lessons in
leadership from
a dancing guy
video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO8MwBZl-Vc
George Edward Pelham Box
Essentially, 

allmodels 

are wrong,
but someare 

useful.
Write down 

(on an index card) 

a problem you are
currently facing at work.
3 2 1




Blame
Shame
Justify
Obligation
Responsibility
Christopher 

Avery
Pair, Share and Analyze 

your problems using the
responsibility process.
6 5 4 3 2 1
• In what stage are you?
• What would be the responsible thing to do?
• You may write it on the other side of the card.
These cards are part of the
Management 3.0 materials. They
represent the 7 delegation levels
for empowering organizations.
You can find a description of
their use at:
www.management30.com/
delegation-poker
5 4 3 2 1
FEEDBACK - THE SECRET SOUCE…
Feedback
by
Gordon Ramsay
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYylXXGY6tA
Write down 

(on an index card) 

a person you would 

like to give feedback to
and what about
3 2 1
Find a pair

Take turns: 

Simulate giving the
feedback in your scenario
6 5 2 134
Effective feedback
Pre-Conditions:
You Have accurate data
You care about the person
Your goal is improvement (Double check)
Guidelines:
Give feedback frequently
Be prepared.
Speak for yourself
Use I language.
straight to the point.
Giving effective feedback
Set the Stage
make sure the person is in a state to receive feedback
Describe the behavior or result
Be specific, accurate, speak from experience, validate
facts
State the impact
The impact should be a real one, the painful the better
Make a request
Specific, accurate, leave room for other suggestion
Repeat the exercise using
the model
2 minutes to prepare your feedback.
Give it & Reflect with your partner
Switch
6 5 2 1347
Set the stage - Describe the behaviour

state the impact - make a request
Be at the right state
If the time is not right, express it, offer alternative

Actively listen, do not judge
Conquer you ego, Listen, Ask for clarifications

UnderstandEmpathize with the impact
Show real Empathy, understand the impact, see the other
side

Suggest a solution Ask for help
Be honest, even if you don’t think this is a problem.
Receiving effective feedback
The wrong way
of doing
retrospectives
video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJezcyKno5k
Facilitating retrospectives
Retrospective guidelines
1. Listen.
2. Ask the team.
3. The right activity
4. Time box
5. Stay objective
Retrospective Model
1. Set the stage
2. Gather data
3. Generate insights
4. Decide what to do.
5. Close the retrospective
Set the stage
One word.
Grade the sprint.
Gather data.
Delta  +
Timeline.
Radar
Generate insights.
Brainstorm
Silent grouping
5 why’s
Decide what to do.
Action items.
User stories.
Close the retrospective
ROTI.
Appreciate
someone.
Set the stage
One word.
Gather data.
Radar
Generate insights.
Brainstorm
Decide what to do.
Action items.
Close the retrospective
ROTI.
Let’s retrospect
Daily meetings
Daily scrum from hell…
daily meeting guidelines
1. Validate pre-conditions.
2. This is NOT your meeting.
3. Look for clarity.
4. take it offline.
5. Time box
6. Document problems.
The daily is a waste of time…
1. Is it short?
2. Are problems being solved?
3. Is information shared?
4. Is it technical?
5. Is it done standing up?
6. Are we a team?
NAVIGATING 

CONFLICT
Conflict video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl3e-OUnavQ
patrick

Lencioni
Conflict types
Conflict types
symptoms.

Think of ways to identify 

conflict types
4 3 2 1
Lack of clarify - Emotional attachment 

Different values - interpersonal conflict.
Suggest how to
approach the
different conflict types
4 3 2 1
Lack of clarify - Emotional attachment 

Different values - interpersonal conflict.
6 5
Navigating

a group conflict
using 

The Perfection game
I give the idea a _ out of 10.

What i like about it is _____
What would make it perfect for me is ______
What would you
like to do now?

Use the Perfection game
I give the idea a _ out of 10.

What i like about it is _____
What would make it perfect for me is ______
Growing 

leaders
You don't see the
world very clearly
You feel that no
one listens to you.
Fragile, you break
easily.
People now notice
you.
You have a better
picture of how the
world works.
People don’t always
understand what
you mean.
You still have a lot
to learn and you fail
often.
You have learned
a lot and gained
experience.
You have more
knowledge.
You are able to
influence your
environment.
It is now time to
start hatching
more eggs.
6 5 4 3 2 1
Letter to future self
feedback please.
- Please make it effective.
- Can we quote you?
What questions do
you have?
Thank you!
.‫תודה‬

Scrum training day 2