Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches

Understanding Team Expectations: The Key to Scrum Master Success | Mateusz Komander

Feb 13, 2025

Mateusz Komander, a Scrum Master at Heineken with a rich background in Agile transformations across biotech and airlines, shares valuable insights on team expectations. He emphasizes the necessity of asking teams what they expect from their Scrum Master to gauge maturity and adapt effectively. Mateusz also discusses the importance of tailoring retrospective formats to avoid chaos, advocating for a balance between engagement and simplicity. His approach fosters a safe environment for collaboration, crucial for a Scrum Master's success.

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ADVICE

Consistent Retrospectives

Find a retrospective format that works for your team and stick with it for consistency’s sake.
Regularly gather feedback to ensure the format remains effective.

ADVICE

Understanding Team Expectations

Regularly ask your team what they expect from you as a Scrum Master.
Adapt your approach based on their feedback and the team's maturity level.

ANECDOTE

Team Growth Example

Initially, a team couldn't articulate their expectations of a Scrum Master.
After six months, they requested facilitation methods for an architecture session, demonstrating growth.

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Mateusz Komander: Understanding Team Expectations - The Key to Scrum Master Success

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

For Mateusz, success as a Scrum Master starts with understanding team expectations. He emphasizes the importance of regularly asking teams "What do you expect from me as your Scrum Master?" The responses not only reveal the team's previous experiences with Scrum Masters but also indicate their maturity level and understanding of the role. By asking this question periodically, Mateusz can track the team's evolution and adapt his approach accordingly.

Self-reflection Question: When was the last time you explicitly asked your team about their expectations of you as a Scrum Master, and how did their answers influence your approach?

Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Adapt to Your Team's Needs

Mateusz learned through experience that consistently changing retrospective formats can create chaos for teams. He recommends finding a format that works well for your specific team and sticking with it. For some teams, this might be Lean Coffee, while others might benefit from simpler models like "What works well/not so well/needs improvement." The key is to experiment initially, gather feedback after each retrospective, and then settle on what works best for your team.

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About Mateusz Komander

Mateusz, is a Scrum Master at Heineken, and brings expertise from biotech and airline industries, excelling in Agile delivery and transformations. Skilled in Management 3.0, he fosters self-managed, innovative teams. Mateusz just launched a podcast on organizational transformation, Mateusz highlights how understanding team dynamics beyond the Scrum framework enhances collaboration and effectiveness.

You can link with Mateusz Komander on LinkedIn.