Do your best!

"Give Your Best" is more than a catchy phrase—it's the very essence of what I believe scrum is all about. I remember a debate I had during one of my many conversations about scrum. The question on the table was: "What two actions demonstrate the commitment of Scrum Team members?" The answers that resonated were, without a doubt, "Help the other Scrum Team members" and "Do your best." To me, these answers capture the heart and soul of scrum. They represent a commitment not only to personal excellence but also to the entire team's success.

As a scrum master, my focus has always been to extract the best from every team member. Whether someone is struggling or already delivering at a high level, my goal remains the same: to nurture an environment where each individual is empowered to excel. This approach is what I call building "Very" high-performance teams—if such a thing even exists in its purest form. For me, true high performance isn’t solely measured by velocity charts or sprint outcomes. It is reflected in the level of engagement, commitment, and, most importantly, happiness of everyone involved. When every team member is fully engaged and passionate about their work, the team's collective strength becomes unstoppable.

I’ve witnessed firsthand the pitfalls of trying to measure performance with rigid metrics. It’s all too common to see teams being judged as good or bad based on numbers, leading to an atmosphere of controlling oversight and micromanagement. This toxic approach, where the focus shifts away from genuine collaboration and towards mere control, undermines the very principles of scrum. The product, after all, should always be the primary focus, and at the end of the day, the joy of working on something you are passionate about is what truly matters.

My philosophy is also the driving force behind my book, "A Meter for a Fever." The title itself serves as a metaphor—a critique of management and control methods that try to measure the immeasurable. Instead of obsessing over metrics, I advocate for investing in the team's collective strengths and efforts. By doing so, we not only create better products but also foster an environment where every individual feels valued and supported.

In the end, giving your best in scrum isn’t about reaching some arbitrary standard; it’s about commitment, mutual support, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. It means standing by your teammates, stepping in when someone is in need, and celebrating every victory—big or small. It’s a commitment to an approach where passion drives performance and where the product is a natural outcome of the team's collective energy and enthusiasm. This is the scrum compromise I stand by, and it’s what keeps me motivated every day as a scrum master.