You Are Not Your Team’s Scrum Master or Agile Coach Babysitter

Yes, you read that right. You Are Not Your Team’s Scrum Master or Agile Coach Babysitter.
This thought struck me during a Community of Agile meeting, where Agile Coaches and Scrum Masters gathered to discuss responsibilities. During the session, one of them raised their hand and proudly proclaimed:

“I love my team. I manage everything, even the daily meetings, to help them.”

As someone committed to growth and empowerment, I saw an opportunity to share a different perspective.

You Are Not Your Team’s Scrum Master or Agile Coach Babysitter

Dear Scrum Master, and Agile Coach, your job isn’t to run the daily meeting. You’re here to empower, not to control. By managing every detail, you risk making your team dependent on you, feeding their insecurities and stifling their proactivity. What happens if you’re not there? Will the team progress without you? That is the true measure of leadership: building something that thrives in your absence.

If you’re doing this out of fear of becoming unnecessary, let me reassure you: a team will always need a leader, but not one who micromanages. They need someone who can guide, facilitate, and help them stay on the right path. Software development—and business in general—are rarely linear journeys. A leader who knows how to motivate and support the team when necessary is invaluable. If you’re unsure about what Agile is not, consider reading my article about Agile misconceptions.

The Importance of Empowering Your Team

At the beginning of my career, I didn’t have a leader to guide me. Instead of a helping hand, I often encountered obstacles. But this lack of support didn’t hold me back—it fueled my determination. I doubled my efforts, embraced proactivity, and cultivated an insatiable desire for growth and learning.

Let’s face it: workplaces that uplift people instead of abandoning them are rare.

So, if you truly love your team, step up as a leader. Prepare them to face the challenges of work—and life—head-on. For further insights on encouraging the team check out some practical tips for overcoming resistance to change.

Will They Hate You?

One of the Scrum Masters replied: “But this way, they might not like me.”

To this, I replied:

“We’re not here for validation. We’re not here to be liked. We’re here to help our teams grow. Yes, they may resist at first, sometimes less, other times more and strongly, but your role is to coach them toward self-reliance. Your team’s growth and the success of your projects depend on your willingness to help them become independent.

Remember: your team members are not your kids. They are adults who need self-awareness and confidence to perform at their best. They must understand that they are powerful as individuals and even more so as a team.

You’ll need to put in the effort because it’s essential for their growth, the team’s success, and the project’s outcomes.

If you’d like to dive deeper into building self-reliance, I invite you to read my thoughts on how to lead change without fear.

From Silent Observers to Proactive Contributors

I’ve witnessed incredible transformations in team members who were once hesitant to speak during meetings.

With the right guidance, encouragement and leadership, they began injecting their personalities into their work—becoming confident, proactive, and motivated contributors. This is one of the greatest accomplishments a leader can be proud of: helping someone find their voice and contribute to the collective success.

Facilitating, Not Dictating

Dear Scrum Master, where is it written that you’re the sole person responsible for retrospectives? You’re a facilitator. Guide your team to take ownership of the process so that, in your absence, they can still lead the retrospective and take actionable steps. 

I also remember when one team member once said: “We need a Scrum Master to manage the board during the daily”.

I replied: “Sure, let me show you how to move an item from one column to another. Next time, you won’t need an administrator for this.” Problem solved.

Over time, those who initially resisted became my strongest supporters. They learned to appreciate the bigger picture, and many continue to reach out for advice. 

Nothing is impossible!

Build on Cement, Not Sand

Leadership isn’t about shielding your team from challenges. It’s about preparing them to face those challenges on their own.

By empowering your team, you create a foundation of self-awareness, confidence, and resilience—a foundation as solid as cement.

So, dear Scrum Master and Agile Coach, lead with purpose. Guide your team not to rely on you, but to realize their own potential. In doing so, you’re not just helping them; you’re building something that can stand the test of time.

They will be grateful. I can guarantee that.

They will respect you—both as a leader and as a person—because they’ll understand that everything you’ve done was to help them thrive. 

Give them time to accept change, appreciate it, and understand the WHY behind actions.

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