Derek Davidson

In October 2019, I was in the beautiful city of Vienna facing an interview panel consisting of Certified Scrum Trainers and Scrum Alliance staff. The scene for my interview was set with one of their opening questions: “If you could add one more Scrum Value, what would it be?”

That’s a cracker, isn’t it? I’d never considered the question before, and interviews aren’t really environments where you can slowly and reflectively mull things over. So, my answer, after just a moment’s consideration, was: humility.

It occurred to me, even at the time but certainly afterward, that any answer I gave was likely to be a reflection of my own experiences and beliefs rather than a reasoned, considered, intellectual response. It did trigger the process of thinking about why I choose humility.

I believe education is a wonderful thing. It elevates us as a species, and intelligence equips us to deal with our world more capably. However, it has a potential dark side. For a minority, education can lead to aloofness and arrogance. It becomes a way to evidence superiority. With the growing number of Scrum trainings and certification badges to be earned, the tribalistic competition between organizations might lead some to that position of superior thinking and considering themselves an “expert” who knows better than others.

In my experience, Agile coaching and Scrum training relies on connecting people and connecting with people. Arrogance is a significant barrier to achieving that state.

A counter to arrogance is humility, which is why it is my sixth Scrum Value. I constantly remind myself that my single brain is no match for the collective power of a Scrum Team, Scrum class, or coaching endeavor, no matter how much I think I know. And that is irrespective of my years of experience and the variety of circumstances I have been in with Scrum.

I remind myself that people are experts at being themselves. To help them, I need to understand them, at least in part.

A motto I aspire to is: “First, strive to understand.” I hope it makes for a better Scrum Practitioner, Scrum Master, Scrum Trainer, Agile Coach, and fundamentally, human being.

I commend humility as one possible way of improving you and the people you come into touch with.