Picture the scene: As a ScrumMaster, you note that your team has gradually become deferential to a very dominant team member. This team member isn’t always right but their natural domineering style just sweeps the team along with them. You feel certain that it’s harming the team and want to address it. But how do you deal with it?
You make some really good points there Derek – I will be watching myself to make sure I don’t fall into that dominant category!
Does Scrum recognise the difference between followers and leaders? You need a healthy balance between the two I think. Too many followers and the team drifts along aimlessly; too many leaders and the tension prevents progress. But a team that has a different leader for each discipline or domain is a healthy team as long as one person doesn’t try to lead in everything.
Hi Brennan
Scrum is quiet on the topic of followers or leaders except to say that there is no concept of Team Leader or Head BA or Lead Tester etc. In Scrum, everyone in the Development Team is a Developer.
My experience has shown me though that it’s rare to have a Scrum Team that does not possess a mix of natural leaders and followers. That seems healthy to me.
Hello Derek,
I like this article.
How about an article that tells us how to deal with a team member who is not committed, not self driven, not motivated? More like..lazy to be honest.
For example he/she says i am working on this today.I don;t knwo how much time it takes.Tomorrow he says I am working on the same thing today, did not succeed yesterday, i don;t know how much time it takes.Even if you push him by constantly asking updates and ask for estimates. still..how to make him motivated?
Hi
Thanks for the comment and an excellent idea for an upcoming article. Watch this space 🙂