I’ve noticed our Daily Scrum has turned into everyone just reporting to the Scrum Master about what they did yesterday. No one listens to each other, and there is zero collaboration on blockers. How can I shift the focus back to the team talking to each other about how to achieve the Sprint Goal together?
3 answers
To fix this, the Scrum Master should literally "step out of the circle" or turn their camera off in remote meetings. Force the team to look at the board, not at you. Change the format from "What did I do?" to "Walking the Board." Start from the right (items closest to 'Done') and ask what is needed to move that specific ticket to completion. This naturally encourages collaboration because the focus is on the work, not the person. If someone says they have no blockers but the ticket hasn't moved in three days, the team can challenge that collectively.
Do you think the team feels pressured by management to prove they are "busy," which is why they are listing every tiny task they performed?
Try changing the order of speakers every day. Let the person who finished speaking pick the next person. It keeps everyone on their toes and listening.
I love that idea, Susan. It stops that "zoning out" effect where people only listen for their own turn and then stop paying attention to the rest of the team.
Spot on, Brian. We have a culture of "busyness" here. I’ve started stopping people when they go into too much detail and asking, 'How does that help us finish the Sprint Goal by Friday?' It was awkward at first, but it’s helping them realize that the Stand-up is for them to plan their day together, not for me to track their every move.