No Manager in Scrum?
- Mary Iqbal
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 4
When leaders first hear that Scrum Teams are self-managing, their first question may be: “Then what happens to my job?”
It’s a fair concern. Self-management can sound like no structure, no accountability and no need for leadership. That isn’t what Scrum means.
Be a leader not a micromanager
You hired people for their judgement. Give them room to use it.
Scrum is used in complex environments. Teams must be free to think creatively and to decide how best to approach their work.
Since all of that sounds pretty fluffy, let me give you some concrete examples of what we mean when we say that Scrum teams are self-managing.
1. Sprint Planning is collaborative. During Sprint Planning, Developers select Backlog Items through discussion with the Product Owner. Then, Developers decide how to turn those items into a usable Increment. This is a big change from the days when the management team assigned Developers to each task. In Scrum, the work is prioritized and ordered by the Product Owner, and the entire Scrum Team collaborates on the Sprint Goal.
2. The Product Owner decides what will add the most value to the Product. The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product. Rather than executives prioritizing a list of projects, the Product Owner creates the Product Goal and works with stakeholders and the Scrum team to determine the content and ordering of the Product Backlog. Leaders provide organizational direction and context. They should not turn the Product Owner into an order-taker.
3. Scrum Masters coach the team and organization. Scrum Masters help team members strengthen self-management and improve effectiveness. They also work with leaders to remove organizational barriers. For example, a Scrum Master may partner with management to address a slow approval process or cross-team dependency that interrupts the Sprint. They might meet with management to brainstorm ways to address strife or improve the collaboration of the Scrum team.
4. Developers adapt during the Sprint. Technical challenges rarely wait for a management meeting. When new information appears, Developers adjust their plan and choose the best way forward (within agreed boundaries). This allows them to respond quickly and creatively to obstacles.
5. The team decides how to improve their own process. In the Sprint Retrospective, the Developers, Product Owner, and Scrum Master identify improvements and implement them without needing management sign-off on every change. It can begin making the most useful changes right away.
What leaders still need to do
Self-management doesn't mean a team operates without directions, boundaries, or accountability.
Leaders still need to:
Connect the team's work to clear organizational goals
Set boundaries around budget, risk, compliance, and decision-making
Give the Product Owner the authority needed to manage product value
Remove organizational impediments the Scrum Team can't solve alone
Protect the team from conflicting priorities and unnecessary side quests
Pay attention to outcomes and collaboration without taking over the daily work
Support the change when old habits and resistance return
In short, leadership defines the direction and the boundaries. They back up the transformation and addresses resistance directly.
This is not less leadership. It's a different kind of leadership.
From directing the work to enabling the team
Agile isn’t about getting rid of managers. It’s about redefining what good management looks like in a more empowered, collaborative environment.
Successful managers move from controlling work to creating the conditions for great work. They give teams clear goals, remove boundaries, and make space for people to solve problems.
This makes the managers job more valuable to the organization.
Build the skills to lead without taking over
Learn how to set clear guardrails, support Product Owners and Scrum Masters, and coach self-managing teams without slipping back into micromanagement.
Connect with your peers and learn more about leadership in an Agile environment at the Professional Agile Leadership class with Rebel Scrum.
