To Attend or Not to Attend

The Scrum Master’s Role in Daily Scrums

Photo byParabol | The Agile Meeting Toolbox on Unsplash

The Daily Scrum is a meeting of developers where they discuss progress, plans, and obstacles. As a Scrum Master, you may wonder whether or not you should attend the Daily Scrum meeting with your team.

Some advantages of the Scrum Master attending the Daily Scrum include:

1. Ensuring that the meeting is productive and stays on track.
2. Being able to identify and address any impediments that the team may be facing.
3. Being available to provide guidance and coaching to team members.

However, there are also some potential disadvantages of the Scrum Master attending the Daily Scrum, such as:

1. The Scrum Master’s presence may discourage open communication among team members.
2. The team may become too reliant on the Scrum Master to solve problems.
3. The Scrum Master may inadvertently dominate the conversation and overshadow the team’s contributions.

So, what’s the best approach? I recommend attending the Daily Scrum but taking a backseat role. That means allowing the team to lead the discussion while you focus on observing and listening to their progress and concerns. Then, only intervene when necessary to help the team stay focused or overcome obstacles. By doing so, you can ensure the team is working effectively and efficiently while allowing team members to take ownership of their work and progress.

Ultimately, the decision to attend the Daily Scrum meeting as a Scrum Master should depend on the needs and dynamics of your team. Remember that your role is to support and empower the team, and by finding the right balance, you can help them achieve their goals and maximize their productivity.