Discover how a workshop can unlock the power of the scrum values.
What makes a Scrum team truly successful? Is it the strict application of the Scrum Guide? While some might think so, I believe the true strength lies in something deeper: the five Scrum Values. These values are built upon the pillars of empiricism and form the foundation of trust within teams and towards the wider organization. Together, they lay the groundwork for strong collaboration and sustainable results.
However, this comes with a challenge: the values seem simple and almost self-evident on paper. The theory is great, but how do you bring these values to life in your team? How do you make them tangible in day-to-day work? That’s where this workshop comes in.
As an experienced Scrum Master and Agile coach, I have facilitated this workshop many times, each instance bringing new insights and results. In this article, I’ll share how you can use this workshop to anchor the Scrum Values in your team. Whether you’re a beginner Scrum Master or a seasoned Agile coach, I hope this inspires you to take action and explore the potential of these values.
What are the Scrum Values?
The Scrum Guide outlines five core values that serve as the foundation for collaboration in a team: Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect, and Courage. These values support the pillars of transparency, inspection, and adaptation, and building trust within the team and with stakeholders.
But these values are more than just principles. They invite teams to reflect and continuously grow. Below, I’ll summarize the values as described in the Scrum Guide and add practical examples to help you bring them to life.
courage
“Scrum Team members have the courage to do the right thing, to work on tough problems.”
Courage is not only about tackling tough challenges but also about:
- Experimenting: Trying out new ideas or approaches, even if there’s a risk of failure.
- Being honest: Having difficult conversations or challenging priorities constructively.
Practical tip: Foster a culture where mistakes are safe to make. For instance, discuss what you’ve learned from experiments during retrospectives to show that trying new things is valued.
focus
“Their primary focus is on the work of the Sprint to make the best possible progress toward these goals.”
Focus means aligning the team’s attention with the most important goals of the sprint and avoiding distractions. It also involves:
- Clear goals: Everyone knows what’s most important during the sprint.
- Mindful work: Staying engaged without being sidetracked by other tasks.
Practical tip: Start each daily stand-up by reiterating the sprint goal. This helps everyone stay aligned and focused.
Commitment
“The Scrum Team commits to achieving its goals and to supporting each other.”
Commitment goes beyond just delivering results. It’s about dedication to each other as team members:
- Thinking as a team: Helping colleagues when needed, not just focusing on your tasks.
- Taking responsibility: Addressing challenges rather than deflecting them.
Practical tip: Discuss what commitment means as a team. These conversations often lead to valuable insights and shared understanding.
Respect
“Scrum Team members respect each other to be capable, independent people, and are respected as such by the people with whom they work.”
Respect is the cornerstone of collaboration and involves:
- Valuing diversity: Recognizing and appreciating the unique strengths of each team member.
- Accepting mistakes: Using them as opportunities to learn rather than assign blame.
Practical tip: Create space in retrospectives for positive feedback. Sharing appreciation for one another can have a profound impact on team dynamics.
Openness
“The Scrum Team and its stakeholders are open about the work and the challenges.”
Openness is about more than just transparency; it requires vulnerability:
- Sharing honestly: Discussing both successes and challenges.
- Ensuring transparency: Making sure everyone has access to the same information.
Practical tip: Start every retrospective with a check-in where team members share their feelings. This fosters an open and supportive environment.
The power of these values
When a team embraces the Scrum Values, something remarkable happens. These values evolve from simple guidelines into a shared culture. This culture fosters trust, mutual respect, and a sense of accountability, making teams not only more effective but also places where people genuinely enjoy working.
In practice, it’s often challenging to truly bring these values to life. While they seem logical and straightforward, without deliberate application, they can remain abstract. How often do we see courage, respect, or openness actively reflected in the daily behavior of a team? Teams frequently struggle with questions like:
- How do we demonstrate commitment – not just to our goals but also to each other?
- What does respect look like in a team with diverse personalities?
- How can we be open about obstacles or mistakes without fear?
This is where reflection comes in. Reflecting on these values helps teams not only understand their meaning but also integrate them into their collaboration. And this is where the workshop I’m about to share with you plays a vital role.
Why a workshop on Scrum Values?
You might wonder: why invest time in a workshop on something so abstract? It’s a valid question. In practice, teams often struggle because these values aren’t fully realized. For example:
- Lack of commitment: Goals are missed because team members don’t feel accountable.
- Lack of openness: Tensions and frustrations remain unspoken, creating underlying friction.
- Lack of respect: Differences are not valued, leading to misunderstandings and conflict.
A workshop on Scrum Values allows teams to address these challenges head-on. By fostering reflection and dialogue, you can:
- Strengthen team dynamics: Teams that embrace these values work more efficiently and with greater enjoyment.
- Create a shared foundation: Reflection helps teams build a shared language and culture.
- Identify blockers: Workshops often reveal underlying issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.
By creating a safe space and encouraging teams to take concrete actions, this workshop empowers teams to not only work better together but also use the Scrum Values as a practical compass in their daily activities.
A practical guide to the workshop – preparation
As with any successful workshop, preparation is key. Here’s what you’ll need to do in advance:
1. Craft Thought-Provoking Questions.
Prepare 5 yes/no questions for each Scrum Value to spark reflection and discussion. Aim for questions that might elicit mixed responses, as these can lead to deeper conversations.
Examples include:
- Commitment: “I feel personally responsible for achieving the sprint goal.”
- Respect: “I value my team members’ input, even when I disagree with them.”
- Courage: “I feel comfortable speaking up when I notice something isn’t right.”
2. Choose the Right Tools
Decide on the tools that best suit your team’s dynamics. For in-person workshops, consider using flip charts, sticky notes, and markers. For remote teams, tools like Miro, MURAL, or Microsoft Forms can work well.
3. Visual Aids
Provide handouts or posters of the Scrum Values for reference during and after the workshop. These can act as a visual reminder of the discussions.
Workshop structure (1-2 hours)
Here’s a suggested structure for running the workshop:
1. Introduction (5-10 Minutes)
Explain the purpose of the workshop: to reflect on and strengthen the team’s alignment with the Scrum Values.
Briefly review the five values and their importance for teamwork and delivery.
2. Reflection on Each Value (10-15 Minutes per Value).
For each of the five values: Present the yes/no questions to the group.
Optional: Let each participant rate themselves and share the scores per value. This can be used to track progress over time when repeating the workshop. It can also be an indicator of the maturity of the team.
Discuss as a team:
- What prevents us from answering “yes” with full confidence?
- What does this value mean for us as a team?
- How can we embody this value more consistently in our work?
Tip: Create a safe environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing openly.
3. Action Plan (10-15 Minutes).
As a team, identify specific actions to better align with the Scrum Values. Examples could include:
- Clear agreements on ways to communicate and share feedback
- We show courage in difficult situations by …
Assign ownership for actions to ensure follow-up where applicable.
4. Closing (5-10 Minutes)
Summarize the key insights from the workshop.
Ask each participant to share one takeaway or action they plan to implement.
Collect feedback on the workshop itself for future improvements.
Post-Workshop: Keeping Momentum
The workshop doesn’t end when the session is over. It’s crucial to keep the momentum going:
- Document and share results
Summarize the workshop discussions, including the team’s insights and agreed actions, and share them with everyone. - Follow up regularly
Revisit the action plan in retrospectives or stand-ups to track progress and make adjustments as needed. - Embed the Scrum Values
Use the Scrum Values as a lens during team events, like planning meetings or reviews, to ensure they remain central to the team’s work.
Conclusion:
Turn scrum Values into Practice
