Here is something I get a lot when doing Agile coaching: I hear comments about Scrum terms and words. One of them is ‘Scrum Master’.
‘Master’ associates with acquisition of complete knowledge or skill. However, ‘master’ also associates with:
- One having authority over another
- One that conquers
- One having control, especially over a slave or animal, also the employer of a servant
People who know Scrum know that the Scrum Master is supposed to be a servant, a servant-leader.
And that is the problem. Language frames reality.
Here is a term that refers to a servant as a ‘master’. I understand that Jeff and Ken mean the other kind of master, the master of a skill called Scrum. However, not everyone hears it that way. I know because I get comments on this matter and questions, all the time from Agile coaching clients new to Scrum. They are hearing “authority over”, “control over a servant”, etc.
Language matters !
Are you getting these comments and questions about the term ‘Scrum Master’?
Let me know.