Should I Become a Scrum Master? 10 Questions to Guide Your Decision

"Should I become a Scrum Master?" is a question we are asked often, particularly by people moving out of traditional project management or contemplating a change of career. The answer depends on many things. Building on What is a Scrum Master? and Considerations for a new Scrum Master, here are some questions to help you decide.

10 guiding questions

The Scrum Master journey means nurturing a passion for people, advocating for agility, and helping organisations adopt an outcome-focused way of working. It means embracing continuous improvement and proactively facilitating change. These ten questions reflect the core attributes and skills of a successful Scrum Master.

1. Are you prepared to lead by example?

A Scrum Master embodies the principles of Scrum and sets a high standard for the values of commitment, courage, focus, openness and respect. Leading by example builds a positive team culture of trust and collaboration, the basis for healthy team relationships. It shapes a team that is collaborative and accountable.

2. Can you create a safe and open environment?

An atmosphere where people feel safe to voice their opinions and ideas is essential for innovation and problem-solving. Encouraging open discussion and using coaching techniques are the keys to psychological safety, which drives both team performance and satisfaction.

3. How effective are you at facilitating discussions?

Clear discussions keep work flowing and keep the team aligned on its goals. Facilitating a discussion to consensus is part of the Scrum Master's domain. If you want to master facilitation, Scrum.org's Professional Scrum Facilitation Skills course is a good stepping stone.

4. Can you intuitively read the room?

Gauging team dynamics and responding to them keeps a team harmonious. It lets you pre-empt issues, tune into morale, and steer interactions that nurture a positive culture.

5. Are you comfortable letting teams self-manage?

A Scrum Master trusts the team to self-manage while providing the support it needs to succeed. That builds ownership and empowerment, which the agile principles of self-management and continuous improvement depend on.

6. How do you approach conflict and its resolution?

Conflict is inevitable. A constructive approach to resolving it builds a culture of growth and learning. Good conflict resolution skills keep the environment positive and make sure disagreement leads to better solutions, not discord.

7. Can you embrace failure as a step towards growth?

Being comfortable with failure, and treating it as a learning opportunity, is crucial for both personal and team growth. That mindset creates a culture of experimentation and learning, which fuels continuous improvement and innovation.

8. Are you committed to genuine care for your team?

Empathy and understanding are at the heart of the role. They build trust and support team members on their agile journey. Genuine care creates a supportive environment where people feel valued and motivated to give their best.

9. Will you stand against organisational impediments?

Advocating for your team and making sure organisational impediments are addressed is a key responsibility. Taking a proactive stance clears the way for the team and smooths the path to its goals.

10. Are you prepared to help move the organisation to a new way of working?

Shifting to a new way of working is at the heart of Scrum mastery, especially in complex domains. It is a journey from traditional, control-centric approaches to an outcome-driven mindset. The shift involves:

• Letting go of control. A culture where the focus moves from micromanagement to trusting the team's collective intelligence and guiding it towards common goals.
• Educating others. Aligning stakeholders, teams and the wider organisation on the new approach and its value in delivering meaningful outcomes.
• Measuring the right things. It is no longer just about on-time delivery. Encourage a focus on delivering value, achieving goals, and continuous learning and improvement.
• Promoting an experimentation mindset. Exploration and adaptation in complex domains. Experimenting, learning from failure, and adjusting strategy to meet objectives better.

Embrace these and you are not just navigating complexity, you are championing a more effective, outcome-driven way of working.

The value of proper training

It is disheartening but true. The field is crowded with people claiming the Scrum Master title without the training, or even a basic understanding of the role and its accountability. That has led many organisations to undervalue the impact a Scrum Master can have.

Standing apart takes more than a title. A solid grounding in the Scrum principles, with reputable training, sets you apart and demonstrates the true value of a Scrum Master.

So as you weigh the question, consider how being well prepared elevates your role and makes a real contribution to your organisation's agile journey.

Scrum Master salaries: a motivating factor?

A career move into the role raises the question of pay. Average Scrum Master salaries in Europe's primary markets vary by country. Here is a snapshot of the published 2023 figures for the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and France:

• UK
  • Typical range: £45,000 to £70,000
  • Glassdoor average: £48,003
  • Payscale average: £61,000
  • Talent.com: up to £74,000
• Germany
  • Average salary: €59,554 (Simpliaxis)
• Netherlands
  • One source puts the average at €58,000, another at €60,000 to €70,000
• France
  • Glassdoor: average base pay of €57,468 a year in Paris (Glassdoor)
  • SalaryExpert: average base salary of €64,958 a year (SalaryExpert)

Scrum Masters can expect a competitive salary in these markets, with variation by country and city.

Are you ready to be a Scrum Master?

A Scrum Master wears many hats: facilitator, coach, problem-solver and advocate for the team. The essence of the role is a dedication to building an environment where teams thrive, innovate and delight their customers.

With a deep understanding of Scrum, a Scrum Master guides the team and the organisation towards continuous improvement and the smooth delivery of value.

The demand for proficient Scrum Masters continues to grow. Are you ready to step into this pivotal role? Your journey starts with a deeper understanding of Scrum and honing your skills on our Professional Scrum Master course.