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Top 24 Reasons Why You Should Be a Certified Scrum Master

Today, the Agile methodology is taking the world by storm, and Agile practitioners are a dime a dozen. What is it that can set you apart in the Agile space, and make you more noticeable than your peers? The Certified Scrum Master credential from Scrum Alliance may be the answer. As a CSM, you will be recognised as part of an elite group of Scrum specialists who are proven to guide their project teams to agile success. The CSM credential sets you apart as a leader who is able to provide knowledge and expertise far beyond what a typical project manager could contribute, using powerful agile practices. Agile software environments have created a flow in demand for professionals with expertise in agile methodologies and who can properly manage and perform agile projects. By getting a Scrum Master Certification, one can get trained in these techniques and at the same time this certificate acts as a tangible proof for employers who are looking for employees with these skills. Scrum Master certification concentrates on the importance of ‘self-organization’, which can result in the following: you can easily participate in the team activities and also, members can feel a sense of self-ownership; employees can be self-motivated, which can help escalate team performance; can let you create a work environment which is useful for the company's growth; the knowledge and skills garnered can make the team immune to internal and external distractions. A Scrum Master Certification will show that you possess the required dedication that companies are looking for in Scrum Masters. There is a great demand for Scrum Masters because every team needs a dedicated person who can manage and perform different Agile projects. When you have this certification under your belt, it shows that you have mastered the best practices of helping various project teams that are working within a scrum environment. It allows you to learn and easily identify what needs to be kept and what needs to be adjusted based on the needs of the project. Along with a CSM certificate, you will have your own profile page on the Scrum Alliance website with a specially designed logo, and can have your achievements ratified. Top Job Designations For Scrum Masters 1. Entry Level Scrum Master With an experience of less than a year, you can make it as an entry level Scrum Master. This would give you smaller responsibilities to deal with while still following all the Agile practices. 2. Scrum Master After over a year experience in this level, you can be promoted to a Scrum Master, and will be required to implement the servant-leader style of operation. You’ll have to play the roles of a facilitator, a coach, motivator, and remove any obstacles that your team is likely to face during the process of production. With added responsibilities and experience, you can easily expect a higher salary from your organisation. You also get the benefit of continuing your Scrum Master education for 2 days each year on your Scrum Score Card. 3. Senior Scrum Master Along with the qualities of a Scrum Master, you will be appended with the responsibility of handling many teams and maintaining harmony among all the members as well as the teams. You get to demonstrate your increased experience and in-depth knowledge on the practices and frameworks. 4. Coach Scrum Master As a coach Scrum Master, you’ll be required full-time and will be booked on a regular basis to train teams, sites, and groups about Scrum practices. It is your responsibility to keep teams informed about new updations in the Scrum Guide, and about the latest techniques and technologies that can be implemented for faster results. 5. Product Owner/ Manager With all the knowledge and experience in handling teams and pressures of the organisation and deadlines, you will be qualified to be a product manager or an owner. Why should you become a Scrum Master? In reality, we know that certifications provide an additional value once we acquire some experience. The CSM certifications act as an add-on to your career. Listed below are the reasons to get your Scrum Master Certification and the advantages of pursuing the CSM training: 1. Certified Scrum Masters earn more CSM certified individuals earn more on average than their non-certified peers. Salary in different cities in the US: Popular Cities Salary New York, New York $70,685 – $1,37,957 Seattle, Washington $71,907 – $1,31,710 San Francisco, California $81,894 – $1,46,277 Washington, District of Columbia $68,885 – $1,36,149 Atlanta, Georgia $57,929 – $1,22,558 Comparing Salaries among different companies: Popular Companies Salary Amazon.com Inc $96,958 – $1,38,725 Capital One Financial Corp $73,830 – $1,20,355 Booz, Allen, Hamilton $67,117 – $119,230 Cognizant Technology Solution Corp $69,531 – $1,04,559 General Electric Co (GE) $83,763 – $1,26,111 Entry Level Salary for Scrum Master: Job Profile Salary Software Engineer $70,398 Software Developer $59,701 Mechanical Engineer $60,001 Electrical Engineer $62,209 Financial Analyst $50,950 Senior Level Salary for Scrum Master: Job Profile Salary Operation Manager $75,310 Office Manager $49,941 Executive Assistant $58,975 Director of Operations $106,933 General/ Operation Manager $75,639 Administrative Assistant $42,095 Chief Financial Officer $146,171 2. Have a strong knowledge of Scrum If you are not familiar with Scrum, knowing about the certification will educate you with the required skills to utilize it effectively. If you are in the initial stages of using Agile methodology for your project, the CSM certification will provide you with the basic knowledge. Even if you don’t know much about Scrum, the CSM certification will definitely help you build a solid base of Scrum knowledge and understand the concepts of Scrum framework. 3. Update your mindset To work with the Agile methodology with Scrum effectively, we need to develop an Agile mindset. The Agile mindset is a key factor for the teams to achieve successful Agile and self-sustaining approach. Industry-oriented certification and training will benefit this kind of mindset. As a member of the Scrum team, you will think in an Agile way, that will lead to a decrease in disagreements, more successful projects and better team collaboration. 4. Knowledge of Scrum Artifacts This certification includes concepts like the product backlog, sprint backlog, burndown charts etc. which are the pillars of a Scrum project. These Scrum concepts will be an advantage for the organizations to deliver the project in iterations. 5. Be admissible and catch your market The certifications will provide youwith an in-depth practical knowledge to improve your career. It makes you relevant and marketable in your field. CSM certifications will improve your career growth across any organization or industry that engages with Agile values. This certification proves that you have an Agile mindset and knowledge of Agile concepts. 6. Certified Scrum Masters are added advantage for organizations It is difficult for any organization to adopt a new methodology as it affects the entire structure of the organization including: Processes Management People Clients In this regard, it is quintessential for all the customers to achieve some tangible and real benefits in the early stage with self-managing teams and incremental iterations. If you are not a certified member, you might miss the opportunity to establish yourself as a Scrum master in your organization. 7. Strengthening teamwork We have a few organizations that consider Scrum master certification for different departments over different people. This certification generally has a positive result when it comes to working with your peers. As a certified Scrum Master, you will have the potential to build and strengthen the core understanding of Scrum while working together with your peers. With multiple Scrum experts along with all departments, the organization gets benefited with Scrum experts in all departments with an instance of knowledge that can lead to the successful execution of Agile and Scrum methodologies. 8. Establish your basic Scrum knowledge to peers The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification shows your efforts and knowledge of Scrum that makes you capable of working within the organization. You don’t need to waste your time to show your credibility in your workplace, your certification speaks about that. 9. Qualified employees get success in projects If your Agile project is successfully done then a team member of certified Scrum Master will benefit from a huge reward. And also, the clients would recognize the potential value of a Scrum team that work together to apply Scrum in a productive way. 10. One more feather to your career cap Certification indicates a sign of honor. If you are being a part of the management, allowing employees to get certified proves your acumen and commitment to enhancing their skills. 11. Succeed as a servant leader As a Certified ScrumMaster, you have the ability to motivate and lead your teammates. You will guide them and help the team work together smoothly. 12. A badge of honour Along with the improvement in your marketability towards potential clients, a Scrum Master Certification also comes with the added benefit of being something that can be flaunted with pride- a badge of honour. Your employees never doubt your suitability towards being a mentor, and are becoming more open towards your ideas. Scrum is not a static methodology in any sense- it is a living, changing and continuously evolving framework which has to be understood in depth, before implementation. A Scrum Master Certification helps you do just that, all the while improving your position in the organisation. 13. Be apart from the crowd The CSM credential demonstrates to your employees that you have the experience and skills to lead an agile team to success. It serves as a differentiator showing potential employers that you have an edge over your non-certified counterparts. It shows that you know your goal—The ScrumMaster knows the goals to be achieved and has a clear vision of what it will take to succeed. You know the quality that is needed to be delivered, and ensure that the team works towards it, ensuring project success and client satisfaction. 14. Iron out glitches in your project In case there are any impediments in the way of project progress, the CSM will negotiate, address any such challenges and build a positive work culture. 15. Ability to judge risks Scrum teams are known to release better products at lower risks, and as the CSM you can be the first to spot any red flags that could lead to potential disaster. 16. Ability to prioritize Prioritizing is the first step towards Scrum success; a CSM will be able to prioritize tasks efficiently. 17. Be a team player A CSM is, above all, a good team player. You will listen to your teammates, accept their suggestions and address any challenges they may be facing. 18. You will communicate well By keeping channels of communication and collaboration open, you will share all relevant reports, calendars and deadlines with the team so that you can work together towards project success. 19. Adopt Agile mindset Scrum being an Agile methodology, training and certifications will help people in your team embrace the Agile practices. And having a consistent Agile mindset in a team will lead to lesser disagreements, better team collaboration and ultimately delivering successful projects. 20. Stay marketable All industries adopting Agile practices will have excellent career opportunities for candidates with Scrum certification. This certification will prove that you have an Agile mindset and core knowledge of Agile practices. 21. A plus for your organisation If there are skilled and proven Agile professionals in an organisation, the management might benefit from it by adopting Agile methodology as it will effectively influence all the aspects of business like people and processes. 22. Learn a range of Skills The Scrum Master Certification helps you to focus on your actual experience and skill set because you have shown that you completely comprehend the principles important for managing a scrum team. Many companies are constantly looking for ways to become more Agile and there are not enough people out there with the required experience to compete with the high demand for scrum masters. If you have a Scrum Master certification, than you not only stand a greater chance of getting a job, but you also have an opportunity to earn higher salary and excel in your career. 23. Support system Another big benefit of getting a Scrum Master Certification is the support system — you join a select community of recognised Scrum experts. These experts have been working to improve all the areas of Scrum implementation, including its methodology, and you can avail their advice when you find yourself in a tight spot. Once you are a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) you will earn the stature to mingle with a society of authorized Scrum experts committed to ensuring continuous improvements with an Agile approach. Scrum Alliance is an official site that has Scrum Masters features across the global. This community will actively provide knowledge in a way to discover events and provide instructions. Being a certified Scrum Master, you can join a community of recognised Scrum experts, practitioners and trainers. This global network will give you exposure to deepen your Scrum knowledge, acquire guidance whenever necessary and also enable you to provide solutions to other problems. An example is Scrum.org, which actually features a global network of Scrum trainers as well as practitioners. There are few things in the Agile this community cannot help you with, and a Certification helps you gain the privilege of their guidance. 24. Influence your organization to adopt Agile If your organization has well-trained Agile professionals, the management would be more comfortable to invest in adopting the Scrum methodology. The CSM certification shows the management that you have the knowledge to work with Scrum and implement its approach. A professional study of Scrum means that you have to study its methods from all angles: this can help you gain a fresh perspective, along with a strong working knowledge of the implementation of Agile methods. You will be able to implant the Agile mindset you gain among your teammates; this increases the cohesion and cooperation of the team by leaps and bounds. The team’s unity, as we all know, is in direct proportion to the success of any project. Getting a Scrum Master certification can help you present yourself in a more attractive fashion, to any prospective employers. A Scrum professional knows how an organisation works, and since the framework is used in almost all industries, your career options expand considerably. If you’re already employed, you have a great shot at improving your organisation- with the requisite knowledge you receive, you can turn yourself into a company asset. Summary: If you have any certified Agile workers among your colleagues, a certification helps you improve your working relationship with them. Even if your peers have studied or adopted a different Agile methodology, the underlying ideas do not change. You will be able to converse and exchange ideas with them, and in the process strengthen the organisation within your company. The work environment is improved, since you can understand how your colleagues work, or even think, to some extent. Passing a Scrum Master examination is no mean feat — it requires you to study and have expertise in various aspects involved in implementing a Scrum methodology. All the things we discussed above are very compelling reasons to explore this certification further. Advance your career with the Scrum Master certification from Scrum Alliance, and sign up for a CSM training workshop led by the best minds in the business.
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Top 24 Reasons Why You Should Be a Certified Scrum Master 9973
Top 24 Reasons Why You Should Be a Certified Scrum Master

Today, the Agile methodology is taking the world by storm, and Agile practitioners are a dime a dozen. What is it that can set you apart in the Agile space, and make you more noticeable than your peers? The Certified Scrum Master credential from Scrum Alliance may be the answer.

As a CSM, you will be recognised as part of an elite group of Scrum specialists who are proven to guide their project teams to agile success. The CSM credential sets you apart as a leader who is able to provide knowledge and expertise far beyond what a typical project manager could contribute, using powerful agile practices.

Agile software environments have created a flow in demand for professionals with expertise in agile methodologies and who can properly manage and perform agile projects. By getting a Scrum Master Certification, one can get trained in these techniques and at the same time this certificate acts as a tangible proof for employers who are looking for employees with these skills.

Scrum Master certification concentrates on the importance of ‘self-organization’, which can result in the following: you can easily participate in the team activities and also, members can feel a sense of self-ownership; employees can be self-motivated, which can help escalate team performance; can let you create a work environment which is useful for the company's growth; the knowledge and skills garnered can make the team immune to internal and external distractions.

A Scrum Master Certification will show that you possess the required dedication that companies are looking for in Scrum Masters. There is a great demand for Scrum Masters because every team needs a dedicated person who can manage and perform different Agile projects. When you have this certification under your belt, it shows that you have mastered the best practices of helping various project teams that are working within a scrum environment. It allows you to learn and easily identify what needs to be kept and what needs to be adjusted based on the needs of the project.

Along with a CSM certificate, you will have your own profile page on the Scrum Alliance website with a specially designed logo, and can have your achievements ratified.

Top Job Designations For Scrum Masters

1. Entry Level Scrum Master

With an experience of less than a year, you can make it as an entry level Scrum Master. This would give you smaller responsibilities to deal with while still following all the Agile practices.

2. Scrum Master

After over a year experience in this level, you can be promoted to a Scrum Master, and will be required to implement the servant-leader style of operation. You’ll have to play the roles of a facilitator, a coach, motivator, and remove any obstacles that your team is likely to face during the process of production.

With added responsibilities and experience, you can easily expect a higher salary from your organisation. You also get the benefit of continuing your Scrum Master education for 2 days each year on your Scrum Score Card.

3. Senior Scrum Master

Along with the qualities of a Scrum Master, you will be appended with the responsibility of handling many teams and maintaining harmony among all the members as well as the teams. You get to demonstrate your increased experience and in-depth knowledge on the practices and frameworks.

4. Coach Scrum Master

As a coach Scrum Master, you’ll be required full-time and will be booked on a regular basis to train teams, sites, and groups about Scrum practices. It is your responsibility to keep teams informed about new updations in the Scrum Guide, and about the latest techniques and technologies that can be implemented for faster results.

5. Product Owner/ Manager

With all the knowledge and experience in handling teams and pressures of the organisation and deadlines, you will be qualified to be a product manager or an owner.

Why should you become a Scrum Master?

In reality, we know that certifications provide an additional value once we acquire some experience. The CSM certifications act as an add-on to your career. Listed below are the reasons to get your Scrum Master Certification and the advantages of pursuing the CSM training:

1. Certified Scrum Masters earn more

CSM certified individuals earn more on average than their non-certified peers.

Salary in different cities in the US:

Popular Cities Salary
New York, New York $70,685 – $1,37,957
Seattle, Washington $71,907 – $1,31,710
San Francisco, California $81,894 – $1,46,277
Washington, District of Columbia $68,885 – $1,36,149
Atlanta, Georgia $57,929 – $1,22,558

Comparing Salaries among different companies:

Popular Companies Salary
Amazon.com Inc $96,958 – $1,38,725
Capital One Financial Corp $73,830 – $1,20,355
Booz, Allen, Hamilton $67,117 – $119,230
Cognizant Technology Solution Corp $69,531 – $1,04,559
General Electric Co (GE) $83,763 – $1,26,111

Entry Level Salary for Scrum Master:

Job Profile Salary
Software Engineer $70,398
Software Developer $59,701
Mechanical Engineer $60,001
Electrical Engineer $62,209
Financial Analyst $50,950

Senior Level Salary for Scrum Master:

Job Profile Salary
Operation Manager $75,310
Office Manager $49,941
Executive Assistant $58,975
Director of Operations $106,933
General/ Operation Manager $75,639
Administrative Assistant $42,095
Chief Financial Officer $146,171

2. Have a strong knowledge of Scrum

If you are not familiar with Scrum, knowing about the certification will educate you with the required skills to utilize it effectively. If you are in the initial stages of using Agile methodology for your project, the CSM certification will provide you with the basic knowledge.

Even if you don’t know much about Scrum, the CSM certification will definitely help you build a solid base of Scrum knowledge and understand the concepts of Scrum framework.

3. Update your mindset

To work with the Agile methodology with Scrum effectively, we need to develop an Agile mindset. The Agile mindset is a key factor for the teams to achieve successful Agile and self-sustaining approach. Industry-oriented certification and training will benefit this kind of mindset. As a member of the Scrum team, you will think in an Agile way, that will lead to a decrease in disagreements, more successful projects and better team collaboration.

4. Knowledge of Scrum Artifacts

This certification includes concepts like the product backlog, sprint backlog, burndown charts etc. which are the pillars of a Scrum project. These Scrum concepts will be an advantage for the organizations to deliver the project in iterations.

5. Be admissible and catch your market

The certifications will provide youwith an in-depth practical knowledge to improve your career. It makes you relevant and marketable in your field. CSM certifications will improve your career growth across any organization or industry that engages with Agile values. This certification proves that you have an Agile mindset and knowledge of Agile concepts.

6. Certified Scrum Masters are added advantage for organizations

It is difficult for any organization to adopt a new methodology as it affects the entire structure of the organization including:

  • Processes
  • Management
  • People
  • Clients

In this regard, it is quintessential for all the customers to achieve some tangible and real benefits in the early stage with self-managing teams and incremental iterations. If you are not a certified member, you might miss the opportunity to establish yourself as a Scrum master in your organization.

7. Strengthening teamwork

We have a few organizations that consider Scrum master certification for different departments over different people. This certification generally has a positive result when it comes to working with your peers. As a certified Scrum Master, you will have the potential to build and strengthen the core understanding of Scrum while working together with your peers. With multiple Scrum experts along with all departments, the organization gets benefited with Scrum experts in all departments with an instance of knowledge that can lead to the successful execution of Agile and Scrum methodologies.

8. Establish your basic Scrum knowledge to peers

The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification shows your efforts and knowledge of Scrum that makes you capable of working within the organization. You don’t need to waste your time to show your credibility in your workplace, your certification speaks about that.

9. Qualified employees get success in projects

If your Agile project is successfully done then a team member of certified Scrum Master will benefit from a huge reward. And also, the clients would recognize the potential value of a Scrum team that work together to apply Scrum in a productive way.

10. One more feather to your career cap

Certification indicates a sign of honor. If you are being a part of the management, allowing employees to get certified proves your acumen and commitment to enhancing their skills.

11. Succeed as a servant leader

As a Certified ScrumMaster, you have the ability to motivate and lead your teammates. You will guide them and help the team work together smoothly.

12. A badge of honour

Along with the improvement in your marketability towards potential clients, a Scrum Master Certification also comes with the added benefit of being something that can be flaunted with pride- a badge of honour. Your employees never doubt your suitability towards being a mentor, and are becoming more open towards your ideas. Scrum is not a static methodology in any sense- it is a living, changing and continuously evolving framework which has to be understood in depth, before implementation. A Scrum Master Certification helps you do just that, all the while improving your position in the organisation.

13. Be apart from the crowd

The CSM credential demonstrates to your employees that you have the experience and skills to lead an agile team to success. It serves as a differentiator showing potential employers that you have an edge over your non-certified counterparts.

It shows that you know your goal—The ScrumMaster knows the goals to be achieved and has a clear vision of what it will take to succeed. You know the quality that is needed to be delivered, and ensure that the team works towards it, ensuring project success and client satisfaction.

14. Iron out glitches in your project

In case there are any impediments in the way of project progress, the CSM will negotiate, address any such challenges and build a positive work culture.

15. Ability to judge risks

Scrum teams are known to release better products at lower risks, and as the CSM you can be the first to spot any red flags that could lead to potential disaster.

16. Ability to prioritize

Prioritizing is the first step towards Scrum success; a CSM will be able to prioritize tasks efficiently.

17. Be a team player

A CSM is, above all, a good team player. You will listen to your teammates, accept their suggestions and address any challenges they may be facing.

18. You will communicate well

By keeping channels of communication and collaboration open, you will share all relevant reports, calendars and deadlines with the team so that you can work together towards project success.

19. Adopt Agile mindset

Scrum being an Agile methodology, training and certifications will help people in your team embrace the Agile practices. And having a consistent Agile mindset in a team will lead to lesser disagreements, better team collaboration and ultimately delivering successful projects.

20. Stay marketable

All industries adopting Agile practices will have excellent career opportunities for candidates with Scrum certification. This certification will prove that you have an Agile mindset and core knowledge of Agile practices.

21. A plus for your organisation

If there are skilled and proven Agile professionals in an organisation, the management might benefit from it by adopting Agile methodology as it will effectively influence all the aspects of business like people and processes.

22. Learn a range of Skills

The Scrum Master Certification helps you to focus on your actual experience and skill set because you have shown that you completely comprehend the principles important for managing a scrum team.

Many companies are constantly looking for ways to become more Agile and there are not enough people out there with the required experience to compete with the high demand for scrum masters. If you have a Scrum Master certification, than you not only stand a greater chance of getting a job, but you also have an opportunity to earn higher salary and excel in your career.

23. Support system

Another big benefit of getting a Scrum Master Certification is the support system — you join a select community of recognised Scrum experts. These experts have been working to improve all the areas of Scrum implementation, including its methodology, and you can avail their advice when you find yourself in a tight spot.

Once you are a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) you will earn the stature to mingle with a society of authorized Scrum experts committed to ensuring continuous improvements with an Agile approach. Scrum Alliance is an official site that has Scrum Masters features across the global. This community will actively provide knowledge in a way to discover events and provide instructions.

Being a certified Scrum Master, you can join a community of recognised Scrum experts, practitioners and trainers. This global network will give you exposure to deepen your Scrum knowledge, acquire guidance whenever necessary and also enable you to provide solutions to other problems.

An example is Scrum.org, which actually features a global network of Scrum trainers as well as practitioners. There are few things in the Agile this community cannot help you with, and a Certification helps you gain the privilege of their guidance.

24. Influence your organization to adopt Agile

If your organization has well-trained Agile professionals, the management would be more comfortable to invest in adopting the Scrum methodology. The CSM certification shows the management that you have the knowledge to work with Scrum and implement its approach.

A professional study of Scrum means that you have to study its methods from all angles: this can help you gain a fresh perspective, along with a strong working knowledge of the implementation of Agile methods. You will be able to implant the Agile mindset you gain among your teammates; this increases the cohesion and cooperation of the team by leaps and bounds. The team’s unity, as we all know, is in direct proportion to the success of any project.

Getting a Scrum Master certification can help you present yourself in a more attractive fashion, to any prospective employers. A Scrum professional knows how an organisation works, and since the framework is used in almost all industries, your career options expand considerably. If you’re already employed, you have a great shot at improving your organisation- with the requisite knowledge you receive, you can turn yourself into a company asset.

Summary:

If you have any certified Agile workers among your colleagues, a certification helps you improve your working relationship with them. Even if your peers have studied or adopted a different Agile methodology, the underlying ideas do not change. You will be able to converse and exchange ideas with them, and in the process strengthen the organisation within your company. The work environment is improved, since you can understand how your colleagues work, or even think, to some extent.

Passing a Scrum Master examination is no mean feat — it requires you to study and have expertise in various aspects involved in implementing a Scrum methodology.

All the things we discussed above are very compelling reasons to explore this certification further. Advance your career with the Scrum Master certification from Scrum Alliance, and sign up for a CSM training workshop led by the best minds in the business.

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KnowledgeHut

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KnowledgeHut is a fast growing Management Consulting and Training firm that is a source of Intelligent Information support for businesses and professionals across the globe.


Website : https://www.knowledgehut.com/

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Top 5 Career Paths for Scrum Masters

Are you a Scrum Master? Will you remain as a Scrum master forever? What are your future plans which can advance your career? Let’s discuss what is beyond Scrum master and understand the scope of the various roles or career paths that Scrum Master can play and the supporting certifications to upskill his/her career.Career Paths for Scrum MasterAgile CoachProduct OwnerMentorManagerManagement RolesLet’s understand each role clearly.Agile CoachIt has become a trend now to become an Agile Coach after achieving the CSM certification. This role will help you to stand out in the crowd. A Scrum Master who is successful in managing the complex tasks and handling the multiple teams can go for the role of the Mentor.  Agile Coach is responsible for facilitating the Agile and Scrum implementation. As an Agile Coach, you help teams in Agile adoption and reach success.To become an Agile Coach, the first step is you should be well-versed with the Scrum concepts. Agile and Scrum Certifications will lead you to enhance your Scrum skills. To call yourself a master in the Scrum, you should become a Scrum Master. Along with this, a Product Owner or any other Development team member in the team can be a good Coach. Having experience in playing all the three Scrum roles (Scrum Master, Product Owner, and the Development team)  will be a great start to your Coaching career. On the contrary, if you are not practicing any of those roles, getting trained in these certifications is the best choice to earn hands-on experience.Agile coach education and training:To become an Agile coach there are plenty of online and in-person courses that will help you build the skills to become an Agile coach. ICP-ACC certification is the most popular in demand certification.To know more about this training, check out our ICP-ACC certification course.Product Owner:While on a Scrum team, if the Scrum Masters like what the team is building more than the act of creating something, then they can be most appropriate candidates to become a Product Owner. Product Owner is another role to which a Scrum Master can make a transition. This is not a part of the career path but it is a movement within a team. The Product Owner role is equal to that of a Scrum Master role which can be taken in order to switch to the Product Owner role.Certification leads to the Product Owner roleThere are two certifications available for a product owner Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) by Scrum Alliance and Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) by Scrum.org. to validate and certify their understanding of the role of the product owner and how they would respond to real situations that will challenge them.Mentor:A Scrum Master who has been successful in his current role can step ahead into a role as a mentor to other Scrum Masters. This includes the transmission of knowledge and psychological support to the team. As the team is engaged in the daily use of scrum, the scrum master helps the team to use it more effectively. The main motive behind the scrum master acting as a mentoring is to help the individuals become self-sufficient and the team to become self-organizing.Manager:A good manager is essential to the success of a Scrum process and if the manager is an ex-Scrum Master then he or she will understand the problems clear and support teams in the right way. As a manager, your roles and responsibilities will increase. Management RolesScrum Masters are not to be confused with the Project Managerial role. But some Scrum Masters find this task very interesting while working with the team members closely. Scrum Masters become very proficient at guiding teams after working as a Scrum Master for years. Due to this, many wishes to move to management roles.To conclude:The role of Scrum Master increases the demand for the scrum experts and thus there are great opportunities for the scrum professional. The scrum master career path allows one to build a career in different fields. Choose the best career path and it’s good to know your options.
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Top 5 Career Paths for Scrum Masters

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How to Transition From Project Manager to a Scrum Master

Scrum Masters and Project Managers are not the same roles. I am going to talk about moving from a Project Manager role to a Scrum Master. Why do we need to talk about it? Because many people think they are the same thing with different artifacts or different language being used. They aren’t.You may be considering a change of roles from Project Manager to Scrum Master. You may be forced into such change as your organization is subjected to an Agile transformation. You may find yourself juggling both the roles and struggling with the competing agendas embedded in the two roles.  What I want you to get from this essay is an appreciation of the differences between the Project Manager and Scrum Master and some ideas about how the role of the Project Manager fits into Agile.The benefits of being a great Scrum MasterThe first and obvious answer is the huge drive to have an Agile delivery capability in almost every organization in the world. It’s a hot new job and having these skills and experiences to improve your employment prospects as you look for work.While there are still more Project Manager jobs than Scrum Master jobs on the jobs boards, the number of Scrum Master and similar jobs continues to grow, while the number of Project Manager jobs appears to be steady, and perhaps even shrinking in some markets.Additionally, more and more Project Manager roles require an understanding of and experience in Agile development and management methods, as project performance seems strongly correlated with the use of Agile methods.So, getting good in-depth experience in Agile working is an important step in your professional development, especially if you are a Project Manager involved in technology projects. Doing a job as a Scrum Master is an excellent way to immerse yourself in Agile world and learn the skills, knowledge, and behavior that will help you be a great manager and leader later in your career.But wait! There’s more.Many, many, many people who adopt the role of Scrum Master find their way into a new and fulfilling career. Scrum Masters and related coach type roles are inherently fulfilling for many people. Scrum Masters report a huge sense of satisfaction in being valuable team members and helping those around them grow in capability and deliver successful outcomes.  Becoming a Scrum Master may be the beginning of a whole new career track for you.Why to switch from Project Manager to a Scrum Master roleLet us have a look at the three key areas from where you can make out the decision on why the Scrum Master can be a great alternative for a typical project management environment:The potential to focus on the current taskDuring a project, the Project Manager has to discuss with the Client team and the Developer team to ensure the project goals. Being a Project Manager, it is very time-consuming and burdening as they have to ensure that the team is adhering to their own high standards.Whereas, Scrum Masters set priorities and target depending on sprint cycle. Scrum Master always keeps an eye on the active sprint. Scrum framework reduces distractions and the stress of achieving several different goals simultaneously. Being a Scrum Master, it is very easy to manage the projects as the Scrum framework allows to-Narrow the focusMeasure the results at each SprintGive the fastest deliveryDifferent ways to manage projectsMostly Project Managers spend much of their lives in:Collecting resourcesVerifying the resourcesEnsuring that everybody has what they wantFacilitating communicationScrum methodology allows to solve queries by communicating with the team members. The team can resolve issues without the help of the Scrum Master and the issues which can’t be solved by the team can be raised during ‘Daily Scrum’. Scrum meetings last for 15 minutes. In those 15 minutes, the Scrum Master will come to know the project status and the roadblocks hindering the project success.The Scrum method allows the teams to carry out communication by:Allowing the teams to communicate to solve issues internallyThe Scrum Master can get project status update in 15 minutes of Scrum meetingThe Scrum Master gets the things that can keep the project runningPrepare for what the client likesClients keep project goals like high ROI (return on investment), quality, reliability and higher lead conversion rates, before approaching any company. Along with the goals, clients want to know about the process and a collaborative relationship.Project manager manages the timeline, limitations, and achievements. They decide on the future aspects of the processes. This method is difficult to manage and works smoothly through changing priorities and resources.  On the flip side, in Scrum method goals, priorities, and resources can be set during Sprint planning. Since Sprint lasts for 2-3 weeks, they set target within a timeframe which allows them to accomplish the target in time and with less errors. The Scrum Master, developers, and teams, all are allowed in the Scrum planning process, so everyone can discuss the process for achieving the client’s requirement. This method allows the client to get the regular status of the project and allows us to create an awesome productTips for transitioning from Project Manager to a good Scrum MasterIf you are a Project Manager entering the Agile world, you probably have the reasons to switch from the Project Manager role to the Scrum Master. You already have a definition of a Project Manager’s role in your head.  It is probably based on the PMI definitions around planning, monitoring, controlling and closing a project. Maybe there is something about the accountability for the outcomes, and using the project management industry’s established methods and practices. That’s all good and a great set of knowledge to have.The best resources to learn what is a Scrum Master, what a Scrum Master does are from reading the Scrum guide and from talking to people who have experience in the role, most of whom are very generous with their time and enthusiastic about sharing knowledge and experiences.  The actual description of the Scrum Master role is very simple, clear and succinct.  The stories you get from the experienced people will help you see the complexity of those clear guidelines applied in complex situations.The most important contributions of the Scrum Master role are enabling the team by helping them unlock value from executing the Scrum framework well, being collectively disciplined and organized as a team, and in spending time and energy clearing impediments to the team’s progress.A Project Manager playing a Scrum Master role for the first time, would not be the first person to make the mistake of thinking the role is all about the process control. But it isn’t. It is an enabler role.As a Project Manager, you might hold accountability for creating a plan and for publishing progress reports against that plan to the Stakeholders.  As a Scrum Master, you are accountable for enabling the team to produce a plan and publish progress reports.You may end up being the person who grabs progress data and publishes it, but you are doing it in service to the team rather than to service your own delivery accountabilities. You may have very little to do with publishing progress reports. Anybody on the team or the team collectively can perform that task.Your job is to help the team understand the need for progress reports, to help them find useful methods to get the job done, and to find the discipline to consistently do the job well.The Scrum Master is advised to use the Scrum framework as a tool to inspect and adapt to both the product demands and the capabilities of the team. As your team learns new things, they will prioritize the opportunities and make changes according to the way they operate.  You can help them identify the opportunities and implement them. There are several easy ways to access methods and tools to solve a variety of problems out there, both inside and beyond the Agile toolkits, but the team should not settle for any obvious best practice. Good practices should be used, not to be settled. Always seek better.We have already looked at how your accountabilities change, but a Scrum Master won’t succeed unless they approach the work with the right attitude.  Each team is different, so you should always assess the expectations of the team and the role you play. Also, you will be able to bridge any gaps by using some fair core values based behaviors that people expect from a Scrum Master.Servant leadership — the watchwordThe Scrum Master role is a Servant Leader role. The Servant leaders seemingly face a conundrum that ‘how do I serve and lead at the same time’.  The answer is that you lead some things with authority based on the expertise and knowledge. You also step aside and let others manage their things based on authority, experience, and roles.For example the Product Owner in Scrum has positional authority on the backlog (that is supposed to be based on knowledge, but is also deeply positional.)You are expected to bring an authority, based on knowledge and experience around the  Scrum, team and system dynamics, and it should be valued by the team. To do this effectively you need to follow some tips for transitioning to the Agile Project Manager.Know your stuffKnowing only what to do leads to cargo cult practices and doesn’t engender a learning organization that continually evolves.  How and why Scrum worksWhy does each of the attributes of Scrum bring value?What problems do they solve and why does that part of Scrum work the way it does?You also need to know why Scrum parts work more effectively when it is executed integratively.New Scrum teams: Start with a Big Bang?If you are working with a team which is new to Scrum or Agile practices, as an effective Scrum Master you should also have some expertise in the way you roll in or implement the new Agile ways of working. Should you do a big bang implementation of Scrum, or roll in one practice at a time? Which one should you start with? Which next?The answer will depend on the circumstances of the team and the Scrum Master should have enough experience and wisdom to have an opinion that the team value because ideally, the teams should be deciding how to roll in the practices.Ask outcome-focused questionsAn important operating method for Scrum Masters is to highlight issues and ask questions.  When and if people express interest in the topic being raised, the Scrum Master may then offer advice and suggestion options. Collectively, the team should engage in the issue and decide what to do.  If the Scrum Master feel that the teams are going to make a mistake, you think about whether the mistake will be small enough to be safe and whether the team will take lessons from the failure. If you see risks, raise them and try to influence the down team with the different paths.As you interact with the team, your experience and advice should become more valued by the team over time.  You should build a consistent track record of helping them become a more successful team. You should not have to try to force change, although sometimes you will feel like you do, and some even rarer times you may feel you have to invoke authority from the management to force something.The importance of feedbackScrum and Agile methodology rely very heavily on fast and transparent feedback. As a Scrum Master, you have an initial feedback system laid out from you in the form of the Scrum ceremonies. These are just the beginning though. You and the team should continuously look to tune and improve your feedback systems so that the team can continually find better ways of delivering better business outcomes.Part of the Scrum Master’s role might be to look at the feedback system, to help the team assess whether they are the right ones and to find better ones.  Sometimes, a Scrum Master finds new ideas about feedback that a team might miss. The team members are all heads down building products and solutions and often prioritize ‘the work’ over ‘the system’.But a Scrum Master can bring an outsider’s perspective, or might be more able to observe the wider system the team operates in. Don’t be afraid of expressing your observations and ideas to the team where you have an insight that they don’t have. That perspective can be very valuable.  You will often be the first to see when a change needs to be made and can let the team know it’s time to start thinking differently.Getting feedback on your own performanceHave a plan for how you are going to grow and become great at the role.  Pursue continuous incremental improvement by setting up regular short cycle feedback systems on yourself.  Pause and reflect on how you are going and what you should do to improve. Do it regularly, and no less frequently than the sprint cycle.  Keep checking with the team whether they need help and what they would like you to help them with, and when you are done, check what they thought of your efforts.Get experience, get training, get a coach or mentor and find a community of practitioners that you can connect with and learn from. Leverage the experience from others, as the people who do this work love to help others and make themselves generously available.Traps in transitioning from Project Manager to a Scrum MasterHere are some of the traps in transition that can be avoided by a Project Manager who has recently assumed the role of a Scrum Master.Responsibility to organize meetingsAgile Manifesto principles believe in building projects collaboratively. Scrum Master arranges meetings for the teams whenever necessary. This is unlike a traditional Project Manager who used to be an administrative assistant to schedule meetings for everyone. Scrum and Agile give an importance to the individuals and interactions over processes and tools.Mistaking the ‘Daily Scrum’ as a ‘Status Update’ taskScrum Master arranges the ‘Stand-ups’ to communicate with the team members. The traditional Project Manager keeps track of everyone’s work to update the project plans and finding out the finishing dates. In Scrum, teams act as self-directing and accountable. So, after their transition to the Scrum Master’s role, the earlier Project Managers should be mindful about their perception of “daily scrum”. The point should be sledgehammered to the minds of these new Scrum Masters that daily scrum is only for the purpose of discussion and is not a status update task.Being a ‘Scrum Master’ is the only jobScrum Master’s role should be multifaceted as an SM has to play the ideal servant-leader role. Also, his role keeps changing in some Agile teams. If any task is incomplete and the Scrum Master is capable of doing it, they should pick up and implement the task. Scrum guide states that “helping the development team to create high-value products”, is one of the services of the Scrum Master. Therefore while transitioning from Project Manager to the Scrum Master, it is important to keep in mind that Scrum Master is not a unidimensional role. It entails multiple aspects.Improper Stakeholder Communication ManagementIn Scrum, the progress is measured as a ‘working software per Agile Manifesto’. The issues are raised, analysed and solved by the team with an external help if necessary. The Scrum Master may not be able to manage the objective the team uses to collaborate. The required deliverables may be set already if there is a governing body such as a portfolio management group or a project management office. In such cases, Scrum Masters should spot the reality that issues are flexible and alter depending on the work committed by the team. Detailing out risks can be ignored, as they will be outdated within a few days or even minutes.ConclusionTransitioning from Project Manager to Scrum Master can be a challenging yet fun. You just need to be very careful. It is important to help with reflection and coaching so that the new Scrum Masters leave some habits behind. When it comes to transitioning to the Scrum Master role, you definitely cannot achieve everything overnight. The first vital step is to get laser-focused. Certifications, as we discussed earlier can be the best if not the only way to do it. All the best for your transition.
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How to Renew CSM® Certification?

Are you a CSM® certified professional? As a Certified ScrumMaster® you are now ready to help the Scrum team perform at the highest level while protecting them from both internal and external distractions. Further, the certification helps you to:Expand your career opportunities across every industry that adopt Agile practices.Demonstrate your core Scrum knowledge.Learn about the foundation of Scrum and its scope.Engage with Agile practitioners who are committed to continuous improvement.But it’s not enough to be CSM® certified. You need to maintain your certification to continue your CSM® journey.Maintain your CSM® certification by renewing itAfter working hard to earn your CSM® certification, you need to avoid its lapse by renewing it every 2 years. You are required to earn a certain amount of Scrum Education Units® (SEUs) in order to validate your participation and continued proficiency in the fundamental principles and practices of Scrum. All the SEUs must be earned within the past 2 years. You also need to pay a renewal fee.The SEU requirements and renewal fees that you need to pay for renewing your CSM® certification are as follows:CertificationSEUs requiredFee Per TermCSM®20$100These 20 SEUs can be earned by you in the following ways:By watching community webinarGiving back to the Agile community by volunteering in some wayParticipating in a local user groupAttend a Scrum Gathering at a global or regional levelWrite a Scrum or Agile blogRead a book on Scrum or AgileSteps to renew your CSM® certificationYou need to be within 6 months of your current CSM® certification date. Further, you need to follow these steps in order to renew your CSM® certification:Step 1: Log in to your certification account.Step 2: Click on the ‘certification dashboard’ which you can find in the settings.Step 3: Pay your renewal fee by scrolling to the ‘Actions’ window and click the renewal link. Why should you renew your CSM® certification?You can reap the following benefits by renewing your CSM® certification:Get your knowledge, abilities, and skills endorsed by the largest, most established, and influential Agile certifying body to differentiate yourself from others in your field.Increase your opportunities for career advancement and potential for increasing your earnings.Influence the future of Scrum to participate in volunteer opportunities.Open your path towards obtaining more advanced certifications.Promote your achievements by displaying a digital badge.On a concluding noteYour CSM® certification credential lasts for only two years. This blog discusses all that you should keep in mind to maintain your CSM® credential. The renewal opens your door to various career advancement opportunities. Also, it helps to promote your achievements by displaying your digital badge. 
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How to Renew CSM® Certification?
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