“The Peanut Butter to my Jelly”
So I’m chilling on the couch, eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while flipping through the news. Gotta say it’s the first time my lunch has inspired a LinkedIn article. But I’m pretty excited about it. Trust me, I’ve eaten so many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches during this lockdown, I welcome the inspiration.
Not only does peanut butter and jelly describe the best combination on the planet, it’s also how I describe the relationship between the Scrum Master and Product Owner. That’s right, it’s a winning combination. Let me share my secret to cultivating an unbreakable bond between partners.
Anytime I am partnered with a new Product Owner, I initiate a conversation to level-set and establish a working agreement. It’s critical for us to be unified and on the same page before we take it to the team.
Our bond has to be rock solid so that we don’t disrupt the productivity of the team and waste time by guiding them in two different directions.
We are one.
We lead together. Although I am a huge proponent of healthy disagreement, we should disagree and come to a compromise before taking our solution to the team. How many times have you been told 2 different things by 2 different people? It’s confusing and downright frustrating. You sure can waste a lot of time trying to figure out which way to go. Amirite?
This is why the team should hear one unified voice. When the Scrum Master and Product Owner are always on the same page, it establishes trust. Not only between each other, we build trust with the team.
Here are a few key principles when you are co-leading a team. Keep this in mind for any relationship where you are partnering with someone in an effort to support a team. These tips can help with all types of partnerships such as Manager and team lead, Director and Manager, Supervisor, and shift lead; so many different types of partnerships can benefit from these simple principles.
How to Cultivate an Unbreakable Bond
- Always have a conversation first before taking it to the team. This is so that we are always a united front. We aren’t taking the team in different directions. Same page. One voice.
- Compromise on disagreements together, not in front of the team. The quickest way to lose respect from your team is to knock heads in front of them. You make them feel as if they need to choose sides. Instead, work out all those bumps and come to an agreement before approaching the team. It’s that simple.
- Make each other shine. Find opportunities to speak very highly of your partner. If there are areas that need improvement, work through them together, but not in front of the world. When speaking of each other to outside team members, stakeholders, business people, and the rest of the world, always be positive and united. This will instill trust that others have in us.
- Have each other’s back. Support each other. Always look for opportunities to go the extra mile to help each other win. There’s enough winning for us all.
- Lead together with integrity. Be honest with each other and try hard not to take feedback personally. Feedback is a gift. Honor each other with the gift of improvement. Admit when you’re wrong. Apologize. Listen to each other’s ideas. (See what I mean by unbreakable bond?)
- Lead together with empowerment. Trust the team to make good decisions. Our goal is not to tell them what to do but to encourage them to do the right thing. Our role as partners is to mature the team and create critical thinkers, not order takers.
- Have fun! Together, we focus on lifting up the team, recognizing extraordinary effort, and just saying “Thank you.” We celebrate team accomplishments and reward them for their success. Cookies? Why yes, that’s exactly what I mean. Surprise them with Tiff’s Treats. Nothing says thank you like a warm cookie in your hand. (I’m right again.)
Scrum Masters and Product Owners have a very special relationship. When this bond is rock solid, it’s the beginning of creating a high-performing team.
Gatekeeper | Advisor | Teacher | Cheerleader | Protector | Coach | Impediment Crasher | Helper | Champion of Fun — in all these things that we do, we do them as one.
“My PO is the peanut butter to my jelly.” ~Trish Batson
