To kick off a Scrum team, you'll need a few items:
- A timer: This is used for time-boxing meetings; most smartphones have one of these
- Whiteboard or wall space: This will be used to create your visible workspace
- Tape for marking columns or swim lanes: If you're using a whiteboard, electrical tape works well; if you're using a painted wall, you'll need to use low tack tape, such as masking tape
- Index cards: These are for writing User Stories
- post-it notes: These are for writing User Story tasks
If you're putting post-its straight onto a wall, not a whiteboard, buy the post-it® Super Sticky variety. They have much more sticking power, and will save you from having to pick post-its off the floor and trying to figure out where they came from.
- Black sharpie pens (fine tip): These are used for writing User Stories and tasks
- Planning poker cards: These are used for estimating User Stories
For those moments when you don't have a spare whiteboard but need to write for the whole team to see, use a post-it® 559 Super Sticky Easel Pad. These are sticky too, so they can be torn off the pad and stuck to a spare wall or window. And no, I don't have shares in 3M (the makers of post-its), but perhaps all Scrum Masters should.
The previous suggestions form a basic Agile toolkit, which each Scrum Master should have. I keep my own toolkit in a clear plastic fishing tackle box.