How to Become a Scrum Master? A Complete Guide

Scrum is currently a standard Project Management practise in almost all businesses worldwide. Scrum Masters are used to ensure that a business adopts and maximises the value they may get from Scrum. Beginners however, are often left wondering, ”How to Become a Scrum Master?” 

Being certified as a Scrum Master can provide concrete evidence to businesses looking for employees with Scrum knowledge, especially given the developing Scrum sector. Read this blog to learn How to Become a Scrum Master, gain insights into the Scrum framework, and discover valuable tips on handling Scrum Master interview questions.

Table of Contents 

1) What is Scrum? 

2) Who is a Scrum Master? 

3) Scrum Master responsibilities 

4) What are the requirements and skills needed to become a Scrum Master? 

5) What roles can you move onto after getting experience as a Scrum Master? 

6) Why should you pursue a career as a Scrum Master? 

7) Scrum Master salary 

8) What is a Scrum Master Course? 

9) Who needs a Scrum Master Course? 

10) Things to know before taking up a Scrum Master Course 

11) What are Scrum Master certifications? 

12) Scrum Master exam details 

13) Conclusion   

What is Scrum? 

Scrum refers to a project management methodology that prioritises collaboration, responsibility, and gradual advancement towards a clear objective. Scrum's primary goal is to meet the needs of the customer by fostering a culture of open communication, shared accountability, and constant improvement. 

Who is a Scrum Master? 

Scrum is led by certified Scrum Masters. They are capable of facilitating and assisting a team in succeeding if they have a firm grasp of the Scrum framework, which is the primary responsibility of the Scrum Master. An agile team within a corporation needs a Scrum Master, just as every business needs a CEO to oversee operations. 

In order to maximize production, Scrum Masters are also primarily responsible for forming a team and safeguarding it from outside distractions and diversions. One of the benefits of working with Scrum is that Project Managers have a great chance to advance their careers, earn more money, and gain expertise from interacting with other Scrum specialists. 

A Certified Scrum Master's duties may include, among many other things, contract partnerships, comprehensive software documentation, client collaborations, the necessary response to the modification of action plans, etc.  

Find out more about Scrum Training from our Scrum Master Certification  today! 

Scrum Master responsibilities 

 In a project, the Scrum Master’s Responsibilities include a variety of functions. They don't belong to a hierarchy, give instructions, or expect a Return on Investment; instead, they pursue a more comprehensive strategy for Product Development, sharing their expertise with other team members and promoting shared decision-making inside the Scrum Team. 

1) The Scrum Master forms and onboards project teams, ties them into the business, and presents a distinct picture of the finished good.   

2) They are in charge of facilitating teamwide information and communication.   

3) Additionally, they provide feedback, keep an eye on the status of projects, and foster a culture of adaptability and learning.   

4) They hold daily team meetings (Scrum Events) where they provide frequent updates by passisng on key information called scrum artifacts, discuss any roadblocks, and make sure the project is moving forward.     

5) They occasionally arrange meetings where they inform the project's stakeholders on how it's going.   

Ultimately, a Scrum Master's responsibility is to make sure the team meets deadlines and produces the desired results. To do so they use Scrum tools to keep track of all the tasks.

What are the requirements and skills to become a Scrum Master? 

To become a Scrum Master, you must ensure that the following three steps have been accounted for: 

a) Step 1: Learn about Scrum and finish the prerequisites before enrolling in training program. Learn more. 

b) Step 2: Attend a Scrum Trainer-led class on becoming a Scrum Master. Find a course. 

c) Step 3: Pass the Scrum Master test with flying colors. 

Skills required 

A collection of fundamental characteristics will enable you to lead your team to the best of your ability, regardless of whether you're just learning How to Become a Scrum Master or moving forward in your career. The list of hard and soft skills needed to become a Scrum Master is presented below: – 

Hard skills needed to become a Scrum Master: 

1) Extensive Scrum and Agile training: The main responsibility of a Scrum Master is to make sure that the team is correctly following the Scrum and Agile principles. Although the idea behind Scrum may appear to be quite simple, there are a specific set of terms that users need to be familiar with to utilise the framework effectively. For this reason, it is essential to be conversant with these words.   

2) Organisational management: The ability to implement a well-tuned organisational framework is another crucial competency in learning How to Become a Scrum Master. The Scrum Teams require a proper framework to maintain order; in this case, the Scrum Masters must put a strategy in place that keeps everyone on track Not only should a Scrum Master follow a structured approach, but they should also be able to help the team meet deadlines and make sure that no tasks go unnoticed.

3) Technical aptitude: Finding a solution to enable effective teamwork in collaboration with the Product Owner is another key responsibility of the Scrum Master. Scrum's primary goal is to support Development Teams in writing programmes with the fewest possible glitches. Scrum Masters need to have a practical knowledge of the technical terminologies and procedures. Scrum Masters that have knowledge of software development can assist their teams to advance by providing the proper tools and methods for producing high-quality products. 

Soft skills needed to become a Scrum Master: 

1) Guiding skills: A big part of the Scrum Master's work is encouraging everyone on the team to adhere to Agile systems. Strong teaching abilities are therefore required, especially for new teams. An effective Scrum Master should be able to communicate the how, the why as well as the what in order to involve everyone. They must also inspire the team members to collaborate and develop their individual talents. 

2) Mitigating conflict: Because Scrum Teams are made up of a variety of experts with various viewpoints, personalities, and working methods, there may occasionally be conflict. When team members are unable to come to an agreement, it falls on the Scrum Master to find a solution to the problem before it negatively impacts the team's development.   

3) Servant leadership: A servant leader believes in leading their team by helping the members on a ground level rather than lecturing followers. They set an exceptional example by jumping in and doing their fair share of the job. Putting the needs of the group before their own and encouraging others to work to their full potential are key components of servant leadership. 

Additional skills 

1) Flexibility: A Scrum Master should be able to adjust as necessary to achieve the optimal outcome.   

2) Motivational: They ought to have the drive necessary to inspire the group and bring out the best in them.   

3) Communication skills: Effective teamwork with stakeholders and team members requires solid communication abilities.   

These are the key abilities you need as a Scrum Master to lead your team to the greatest of your ability. 

What roles can you move onto after gaining experience as a Scrum Master? 

Scrum Masters develop Project Management experience through conquering complex leadership situations. They often move on to roles such as: 

a) Agile Coach  

b) Product Manager  

c) Senior Scrum Master  

d) Project Manager  

e) Chief Information Officer  

f)  IT Manager   

Why should you pursue a career as a Scrum Master? 

Being a Scrum Master has its fair share of perks. Pursuing a career in the same field is not only profitable but rewarding from a skill-based perspective as well. As a Scrum Master, you may approach leading businesses and contribute significantly to their success. You'll get the chance to create products that improve people's lives. You will have the chance to specifically promote a positive work atmosphere at the office while making sure the best results.   

Scrum Master salary 

According to Glassdoor, Scrum Masters are in the list of highest paid professionals with their average national salary being £59,065 in United Kingdom. With the increasing demand for professionals who hold the expertise in managing projects, the market value will only increase with the passage of time. 

Scrum Master Salary can differ based on their level of experience. However, it's essential to note that salaries can also vary depending on the country. This is due to various factors, such as the overall economic and technological status of the nation, resulting in a significant salary gap.     

What is a Scrum Master Course?  

The Scrum Master Course trains you for the exact same role by giving you an insight of the Scrum framework. Through exercises, case studies based on actual experience, and discussions you will learn about Agile, Scrum Artifacts, Scrum Roles, and Scrum Events.

Enrolling for a Scrum Master Course is beneficial because it gives you the nuances you need to know in order to get the job done. Not only will you understand the basics associated with Scrum methodology but you’ll also be able to understand how different teams operate.

Become a Certified Scrum Developer. Register for our Scrum Developer Training today! 

Who needs a Scrum Master Course? 

For those who want to understand how to implement Scrum in their organisation, learning from a Scrum Master Course is helpful. Scrum can be used by teams that are cross-functional and in many types of enterprises. Anyone new to the Agile method of working will benefit from the skills covered in a Scrum Master Course. The Scrum Master Course is highly recommended for marketers, data scientists, HR experts, and other professionals looking for a better way to manage challenging situations. 

Due to the training's emphasis on this job role, those who plan to take on the Scrum Master role can greatly contribute to the business's overall success. More specifically, you'll have the opportunity to create a business environment where co-workers are productive and ensure the best possible results for a project or product. 

Things to know before taking up the Scrum Master Course 

You must primarily understand the duties of a Scrum Master and assess your own suitability for the position. The second crucial factor, from beginning the course to finishing it successfully, is confidence. Furthermore, you need to know the difference between the Scrum Master and Product Owner, even if the roles of Scrum Master and Product Owner appear similar, they differ in many important ways. 

The Scrum Master is primarily in charge of carrying out the planned events within the Scrum Team and reporting to the other teams, whereas the Product Owner is in charge of planning and prioritising the work of a Product Team.   

What are the Scrum Master certifications? 

Choosing a Scrum Master certification is another crucial aspect of learning how to become a Scrum Master. Consider where you are in your career when you look at various certificates and the organisations that issue them. For entry-level positions, individuals must be equipped with Agile and Scrum certifications. Professionals who are experienced and wish to expand their expertise can choose courses such as:   

a)  Professional Scrum Master™ Certifications   

b) Professional Scrum Master™ Training  

c) You can broaden your understanding of Scrum Master in addition to taking certification courses by reading various books on the subject. Here is a concise list of the top books that Scrum experts suggest: 

1) “PMI-ACP Exam Prep, Second Edition” by Mike Griffiths   

2) “Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time” by Jeff Sutherland and J.J. Sutherland   

3) “Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum” by Mike Cohn    

Scrum Master exam details 

The Scrum Master test assesses an individual's comprehension of the various principles and processes involved in the overall Scrum process. To obtain certification, a candidate must opt for a Scrum Master Course offered by a Scrum Trainer and pass an online exam. 

The exam is one hour long and costs £24. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, and the passing score is 74%. Once an individual is set up, they have two attempts to take the test. If they fail the test twice, £21 must be paid to attempt it again. The Scrum Master test is available in English, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian and many other languages. Once an individual is certified, they will need to recertify after two years. 

Preparing for your Scrum Master Interview, then don't forget to go through Scrum Master Interview Questions.

Conclusion  

In this blog on How to Become a Scrum Master, We understood scrum master is a highly recognised certification across the globe providing you with a wide range of domains within Scrum Master Career Path to choose from. With an emphasis on getting products delivered to the end user at the right time, a Scrum Master’s journey is filled to the brim with challenges. However, these challenges yield good results. 

 Sign up for our Scrum Product Owner Training Course to get started on your path to success.