Being a Scrum Master isn’t always easy. Even experienced Scrum Masters can fall into habits that seem helpful but actually hold the team back. These habits are called anti-patterns—they go against the purpose of Scrum.

Let’s take a look at some common Scrum Master mistakes and how you can avoid them.

1. Being the Team’s Secretary

What Happens:
You end up scheduling meetings, writing notes, and updating task boards—all the time.

Why It’s a Problem:
The team becomes dependent on you and doesn’t learn to manage themselves.

What to Do Instead:
Let the team take ownership. Encourage them to update Jira and run parts of meetings. You’re there to guide, not to do everything.

2. Talking Too Much in Meetings

What Happens:
You lead every meeting, answer all questions, and fill every pause with your own input.

Why It’s a Problem:
Team members stop sharing ideas or speaking up.

What to Do Instead:
Ask open questions and let others lead. Stay quiet sometimes—give space for the team to think and talk.

3. Not Protecting the Team

What Happens:
Stakeholders interrupt the team, or urgent work gets pushed into the sprint at the last minute.

Why It’s a Problem:
The team loses focus and trust in the sprint plan.

What to Do Instead:
Say no to interruptions. Help the Product Owner push work to the next sprint. Explain why focus matters.

4. Micromanaging Like a Project Manager

What Happens:
You assign tasks or track who’s doing what.

Why It’s a Problem:
The team stops taking responsibility and starts waiting for direction.

What to Do Instead:
Let the team choose how to do their work. You support them by removing blockers and improving the process.

5. Ignoring Company-Wide Problems

What Happens:
You only focus on your team and don’t try to fix bigger issues.

Why It’s a Problem:
Bigger blockers like poor tools or cross-team delays slow down progress.

What to Do Instead:
Help fix problems beyond the team. Connect with other teams, raise issues, and push for system improvements.

6. Skipping Retrospectives

What Happens:
You cancel or rush retrospectives when the team is busy.

Why It’s a Problem:
The team misses chances to improve.

What to Do Instead:
Make retrospectives a priority. Use them to reflect, learn, and plan real changes—even small ones.

7. Staying the Same While the Team Grows

What Happens:
You do the same things each sprint, even when the team doesn’t need as much help.

Why It’s a Problem:
You stop adding value, and the team might outgrow your support.

What to Do Instead:
Adapt your role. Focus on coaching, mentoring, and helping other teams or the wider organization.

Final Thoughts

The Scrum Master’s job is to help the team grow, improve, and deliver value. But sometimes, doing too much—or not enough—can slow things down. By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll become a better guide, coach, and leader.

Keep learning, stay curious, and most importantly—listen to your team.