Is the grass REALLY greener on the other side?

As part of this journey to become a Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum Trainer, one of the prerequisites is to gain sufficient training experience through teaching Scrum courses and working with other certified trainers. (In case you are considering this journey, here is the exact wording in the CST Application:)

"I have delivered at least:

• 10 qualifying training events
• At least 5 of the qualifying training events are delivered with the most recent version (including no substantial changes) of my CSM or CSPO materials.
• All of the qualifying training events have occurred within the last 60 months.
• For?co-training to count as a qualifying training event, I have delivered at least 50% of the duration of one QTE."

These prerequisites aim to gain additional perspectives on teaching classes from other trainers, be exposed to different teaching styles, and gain insights into creating teaching activities that help adult learners absorb the lesson content better.

Last week, I had the privilege of working with Jon Spruce CST and fully engaging as a member of one of his CSM courses. This was a unique experience, as I was invited to participate rather than observe actively. I loved this concept and was delighted that John saw my active participation as integral to our co-training.

Teaching students Scrum is rewarding. Participating as a student in this activity is FUN!

As a co-trainer, it's easy to assume an observer role while looking for a specific learning objective to be taught and whether or not students have learned the material. As an actual participant, I found it much more engaging in class. I spent time with fellow students solving problems, discussing elements of scrum and agility, and, most importantly, gaining a better understanding of what the trainer intended when they created the training program.

Because of this awesome experience, once I finally become a CST, I will insist that any co-trainers actively participate in my entire course before co-teaching with me.

So, to tie all of this in with the title of this article, I remember a classic book from Robert Fulghum, the author of "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." In it, his response to this question was:

"The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. No, not at all. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you are."

My point is that as Agilists, we need to take opportunities to become more educated and masterful in our craft. Make time to take a deep dive into the Scrum Guide. Explore other Agiler frameworks to see what they have to offer you. Learn some new skills, like Facilitation, Coaching, or Mentoring. And MOST IMPORTANTLY, bring your "watering can" with you wherever you go!