If the team is self-organized, do they need a Scrum Master?
That silent question has haunted many Scrum Masters.
We dream of empowered teams… but deep down, we fear becoming invisible in the process.
It is a strange irony. The better we do our job, the less visible we become.
I remember a Scrum Master who came to me, looking deflated.
Her team had matured beautifully.
Sprint goals were being met,
Retrospectives were self-driven,
Collaboration was organic.
Yet, she whispered , ‘I feel like I am not needed anymore.’
That moment hit me hard. Because I have been there too.
When your team starts to fly, you suddenly feel like you have lost your purpose.
But here is the truth:you are not redundant – you are evolving.
Hidden Fears SMs Face When Teams Self-Organize:
- Feeling invisible as the team takes ownership of decisions.
- Stakeholders questioning your value since the team “runs itself.”
- Doubts about what “servant leadership” truly means in this phase.
- The fear of being replaced by tools, processes, or “self-sufficient” squads.
- Confusion about what to coach when everything seems fine.
Here are 5 Ways to Reclaim Your Purpose and Redefine Your Role:
- Shift from facilitation to enablement – Start mentoring new leaders within the team.
- Coach at the system level – Look beyond the team; work on organizational impediments and culture.
- Develop your influence outside the team– Help Product Owners, Managers, and stakeholders understand agility.
- Measure impact, not activity– Your value lies in outcomes like trust, collaboration, and adaptability.
- Embrace the invisibility – Like a gardener, your job is to make things grow, not to be seen doing it.
A self-organizing team does not make a Scrum Master redundant
It makes the Scrum Master successful enough to move to the next level of leadership.
Your invisibility is not your end – it’s your evolution.
Have you ever felt this fear creeping in as your team matured?
Share your experience – how did you rediscover your purpose as a Scrum Master?
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