When we hear the word #scrum many of us first think of rugby and not #projectmanagement. And just like during a scrum in a rugby game which is used to restart the game and has the team huddle together closely with their heads even interlocking, to find the advantage and gain the ball, the #scrummaster in an #agileproject will rally his team around him from the beginning of the sprint to self organize and make changes quickly. The scrum master is a servant leader, and does not necessarily have or need a lot of authority. He is a facilitator who is responsible for improving interactions between the team. He also facilitates all team meetings.
Some of his responsibilities, as laid out in the article below include:
Clearing obstacles
Establishing an environment where the team can be effective
Addressing team dynamics
Ensuring a good relationship between the team and product owner as well as others outside the team
Protecting the team from outside interruptions and distractions.
The challenges he faces during an agile project include:
Resistance to change
Misunderstanding the process, especially when new people join an agile team for the first time
Failing to adapt to changing roles
Hence a scrum master must first of all be an accomplished #leader. #Leadershipskills are his main asset. His role is less to ensure the project is successful and more to ensure the #projectteam is successful.