Three Books Scrum Masters Should Add to Their Reading List [Video]

As a seasoned Scrum Master, you’ve probably already read every good book there is about Scrum. As you look to broaden your knowledge you may now find yourself craving something different. If you’re anything like me, you may appreciate learning complementary ideas that can help expand your skillset. Watch Robb Pieper, CEO of Responsive Advisors share his top three books you should add to your reading list and why.

Further Reading

5 Books I'll Read to Facilitate Software Engineering Practices

Let’s Remove ”Agile” from Agile Leadership

What exactly is “agile” or an Agile leader? This is one of the biggest problems our industry faces. Ask a room full of people to answer and you may get as many answers. It could be said that it’s a mindset, it’s a software methodology, or a number of other things. 

I think of this word “agile” as being synonymous with “nimble” or “flexible.” Just ask Google to define the word for you and see which answer comes first.

The Path to Scrum Mastery: Top 5 Common Scrum Master Traps to Avoid

For my career, I have had the great privilege to witness different companies undergo many different phases of Agile transformations. I've met many amazing Scrum Masters along the way that have evolved to take on major responsibilities in their organizations. However, I have also seen many Scrum Masters who fall into common traps that impede the Scrum team, impede delivery, and inadvertently slow down their own career growth by falling into five common traps that I have identified. I'll identify these common mistakes and offer ways to best avoid them or get out of an invisible sinking tar pit that frequently pulls new Scrum Masters into their demise and show you how to get back on the path towards becoming a great Scrum Master.

Trap #1: You're the Only One Typing Notes for Every Meeting

Are you always the one doing the typing in every Scrum event? Being a Scrum Master doesn't make you the team secretary. Anyone who can type can take the keyboard or laptop and write user stories, take notes, update hours and change Outlook appointments. If you want a self-organizing and empowered development team, you cannot do everything for them, including taking notes. I often get asked if a Scrum Master is a full-time role because all they have seen are Scrum Masters that run all the meetings and take all the notes. If that's all you do, it's understandable why one would see it as a part-time job.