When I start on a project as a Scrum Master, I want to get to know the people I’ll be working with as quickly as possible. Beyond the basic introductions, I perform the following activities with the team and Product Owner:
I ask each team member how they would like to receive feedback. I also ask them if they would be willing to give me feedback. We then agree an informal contract which allows us to discuss issues easily and honestly.
I ask each team member to complete a motivation exercise and to share the results with everyone. This helps me and the other team members understand what excites and what deflates a person.
I ask each team member to complete a simple questionnaire based on the Myers-Briggs Indicator and to share their type (an alternative type description is available here) classification with everyone. This helps me and the other team members understand the styles of interaction that other people prefer to employ.
I also like to have weekly one-to-one meetings with the team members and the Product Owner. These take no longer than 15 minutes each, and are peer-to-peer and, in some cases, coach-to-coachee sessions that aim to be mutually beneficial. They provide a forum in which to discuss any issues or topics, and to provide feedback, privately.
