“Don’t assume they’re as enthusiastic about Agile and Scrum as you are.” – Joshua McDonald
Joshua McDonald starts the week with a failure story many Scrum Masters will recognize: stepping into a team and assuming the role, the expectations, and the Agile conversation were already understood.
The team had worked with a hands-off Scrum Master before, so Joshua’s attempts to facilitate events, talk about metrics, and bring more structure were received as interference. The pushback grew so strong he sensed people were talking to his manager about removing him. The turning point came when Joshua stopped leading with Scrum language and started rebuilding social equity through one-on-ones.
He asked what he could have done differently, acted on the feedback, and reminded himself and the team to assume positive intent. His lesson is direct: when we join a new team, trust is the work before the work. Go slow, understand how people operate, and bring suggestions through relationships before bringing them to the whole room.
Self-reflection Question: When you join a new team, what do you do first to understand their relationship with Scrum before you suggest changes?
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About Joshua McDonald
Joshua is endlessly curious about better ways of working. He helps teams grow by blending experimentation, creativity, and AI with practical coaching. When a meeting feels routine, he’s already testing a new approach to make it more valuable. Energetic and inventive, he turns everyday collaboration into opportunities for team growth.
You can link with Joshua McDonald on LinkedIn.
