Scrum is a framework that helps teams collaborate to deliver value in complex environments. While you can have a Scrum team with just one person, most teams I’ve worked with are larger. In my experience, Scrum teams usually include around 5-10 members.
Once you have several people working together, team dynamics start to matter—a lot. Transparency, inspection, and adaptation are the superpower behind the Scrum framework, but they can come with an emotional cost. Openness and adaptability require courage, especially in the face of the social pressures created by transparency.
For example, at the Daily Scrum, it can be hard for a Developer to admit when they're stuck. But it's important that they do, because the entire Scrum team is accountable for delivering a done increment that meets the Sprint Goal. Even if Developers are not stuck, this regular check-in can feel like a spotlight.
The five events of Scrum—the Sprint, Daily Scrum, Sprint Planning, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective—are opportunities for the Scrum team to inspect the work and adapt if needed. None of that is easy, especially when an honest inspection reveals that you might need to change your approach.
The Social Pressure of Transparency
Transparency in Scrum means that everyone sees the work being done and the results being delivered. This is empowering but also can be intimidating. When your contributions are visible to the entire team and stakeholders, there’s a natural pressure to deliver and improve - and that's a good thing!
For example, in the Sprint Retrospective, the Scrum team reflects on what they can do to improve the way they work. This in particular can be hard because team members must honestly share their ideas, and the team may not always agree on the best way to improve their own processes.
Over time, this social pressure becomes less about fear and more about accountability. But that shift requires emotional acceptance. To thrive in this environment, team members need to trust one another and be open to the idea that their current approach might not be the best one.
The Emotional Work of Inspection and Adaptation
Inspection is easy when everything is going well. But when issues arise, it takes courage to admit that things aren’t working and adapt. At the Daily Scrum, for example, it can be hard to admit when you're stuck - but it's really important as well!
Or take the Sprint Review. During the Sprint Review, stakeholders provide feedback on the Increment that was delivered in the previous Sprint. Even with a great team, there will be moments when the feedback is tough to hear. Maybe the work isn’t as valuable as expected. These conversations require humility and a willingness to change course.
The Sprint Retrospective goes deeper, focusing on how the team works together. Here, the emotional stakes can be even higher. Acknowledging that your process—or your behavior—might need to change isn’t easy. It requires vulnerability and trust. (Are you having trouble with team dynamics? Check out our article on the Silent Retrospective for ideas on how to bring out those voices that are sometimes overlooked.)
Why Change is Hard
Change often feels personal, even when it isn’t meant that way. Hearing “This didn’t work” or “We should try something different” can trigger defensiveness. It’s human nature to want to protect your ideas and your way of working.
Scrum creates a structure where change is not only possible but expected. This structure works best when team members embrace the emotional challenge of being open to new ideas and different approaches.
For example, I once worked with a team that struggled with overcommitting in Sprint Planning. They initially resisted feedback, insisting they just needed to “work harder.” Over time, as they built trust and leaned into transparency, they were able to adapt. They started sizing their work more realistically and delivering higher-quality Increments. But that shift required emotional acceptance of the need for change.
Scrum: A Framework for Growth
Scrum isn’t just a framework for delivering value—it’s a framework for personal and team growth. Transparency shines a light on what’s working and what isn’t. Inspection reveals opportunities to improve. Adaptation requires the courage to take those opportunities, even when they’re uncomfortable.
The emotional work of Scrum is often overlooked, but it’s central to its success. Teams that embrace the social pressure of transparency and the challenge of adaptation not only deliver better results—they also become stronger, more resilient teams.
Change is hard, but it’s worth it. Scrum makes it possible, one Increment at a time.
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