Anh Vu: Situational Leadership for Scrum Masters - Knowing When to Step Back

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Anh defines success for Scrum Masters through a simple but powerful test: when you take vacation and return to find the team working exceptionally well without you. This ultimate measure of success focuses on building self-organization and enabling true team autonomy. He emphasizes that Scrum adoption should serve as a metaphor for autonomy and self-organization, with the Scrum Master's stance evolving alongside the team's growth. Drawing from Situational Leadership principles, Anh points out that a team can only become as autonomous as the Scrum Master can envision and facilitate. The key is recognizing when to step back and allow the team to demonstrate their independence while ensuring they have the foundation and confidence to succeed.

Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Free Form Retrospective

Anh advocates for the free form retrospective format, which requires only a whiteboard, table, and people gathering for open reflection based on the previous sprint's goals. Rather than following structured formats, he invites team members to share their insights freely, considering the retrospective successful as long as the team leaves with 1-3 actionable insights. This approach works particularly well with teams he knows well, where trust and communication patterns have been established. He builds on this by incorporating silent thinking time to start conversations, a habit developed over time that makes teams more comfortable sharing in the free form format. Anh also recommends conducting retrospectives during in-office days when the team can eat together, investing heavily in these face-to-face interactions to strengthen team bonds.

Self-reflection Question: What would happen if you took a week off from your current role - would your team continue to thrive, or would they struggle without your direct involvement?

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About Anh Vu

Anh Vu is a seasoned Project Manager with 10+ years in software delivery, Agile, DevOps, and PM. As a PMP trainer, he has empowered 200+ professionals. Passionate about continuous learning, Anh explores practical tools and methodologies to help PMs and teams succeed in fast-paced, tech-driven environments.

You can link with Anh Vu on LinkedIn.