The Agile Awakening - Part II

This article is part-II of series on #PracticalScrum. You can find part-1 here

Martin’s Struggle

As Asha, Scrum Master sat alone in the dimming light of the conference room, the echoes of the day’s meeting reverberated in her mind. She was torn. On one hand, she yearned to partner with Martin, Product Owner, to bridge their divide and steer the team towards the success she knew they were capable of. Yet, on the other hand, she felt the sting of constant finger-pointing, the weight of blame for every sprint that didn’t meet very lofty expectations. It was a familiar dance of frustration and hurt, one that threatened to engulf everyone.

As the last rays of sunlight slipped away, so too did her hesitation. She would not be deterred by negativity. With a deep, steadying breath, she rose from her chair with a firm resolve. It was time to talk to Martin, to mend fences and forge a path forward, together. For their team, for their customers, for the future they all believed in

The day’s tensions still hung heavy in the air as Asha approached Martin, who was staring out the window of the now-empty conference room.

Asha: “Martin, can we talk about what happened today?”

Martin (turning sharply): “What’s there to talk about, Asha? Every sprint, it’s the same story. We can’t keep up with not shipping on time, always missing deadlines for product launches. We got to move the needle and ship something!”

Asha: “I understand your frustration, Martin. The pressure from above is intense, and the market’s volatility hasn’t helped. But we can’t let it tear us apart.”

Martin: “Easy for you to say! You’re not the one getting grilled by the Execs every time we missed product deadlines, and then they change their minds about our priorities!”

Asha: “I may not be in your shoes, but I see the toll it’s taking on you and the team. We need to find a way to navigate this together.”

Just then, Faiz, Engineer Manager walked in, his presence bringing a calming balance to the charged atmosphere.

Faiz: “I couldn’t help but overhear. We’re all feeling the strain, but we all are also part of the solution.”

Martin: “Faiz, this is beyond us. It’s like trying to build on quicksand!”

Martin (continuing after a pause): "It's a constant battle. Priorities change at the drop of a hat, and I'm caught in the middle, trying to shield the team while also meeting the demands of the leadership. They want agility, but their definition seems to be 'change plans on a whim.'"

Faiz: "I can only imagine how challenging that must be for you."

Martin: "It's not just the changing priorities; it's the uncertainty that comes with it. The team looks to me for direction, and I feel like I'm guiding them through a fog."

Asha: “Maybe it feels that way now, but we’re not alone. We have a team of talented individuals who look to us for guidance. Let’s lead by example and show them that we can adapt and overcome these challenges.”

Martin (sighing): “You’re right. We’ve weathered storms before. It’s just… hard to see the way forward sometimes.”

Faiz: “That’s why we need to chart a new course together. One that considers our team’s well-being and our customers’ needs.”

Asha: “Exactly. Let’s take this as an opportunity to improve. We’ll reassess our Scrum practices, involve the team in the decision-making, and create ways to handle t the chaos.”

Martin: “It’s going to take some serious effort to turn things around.”

Faiz: “But it’s worth it. For our team, for our customers, and for the future of our project.”

With a collective nod, they agreed to embark on this journey of transformation, not just as colleagues, but as partners committed to steering their team towards a brighter, more resilient future.

As Asha, Martin and Faiz exited the room, Faiz reflected upon some of the incidents in the recent past where he blamed Martin for being unreasonable, bringing changes in the middle of the sprints. Now he had a much better understanding and started to see Martin as a partner - and not an adversary.