Robin Silander

I help organisations change the way they think about software development by empowering Scrum teams to achieve their potential and deliver great customer products.

I'm a natural servant-leader and influencer but have also spent 15 years at the coalface of IT change so understand the daily challenges being faced by developers, testers, architects and analysts. Adopting Agile techniques can revolutionise product development but is not an easy option and so requires commitment from the entire organisation. A successful Agile strategy starts and ends with mindset - the approach is such a fundamental shift from the traditional Waterfall methodology that every aspect of the lifecycle must be looked at with fresh eyes. Deciding to make a project Agile and re-badging the Project Manager as a Scrum Master will NOT work.

Being a Scrum Master who adds genuine value isn't always a nice job - it's often about shining a light on the dark corners of the lifecycle to highlight areas where there is room for improvement but if you have built a supportive culture where Continuous Improvement is celebrated then these dark corners will be seen as opportunities for future success.

I've spent years as the "acceptable face of IT", able to move and translate seamlessly between IT and "The Business" and while this is an area that I excel in, I now actively extract myself from leading these interactions. I now strive for the Product Owners and Scrum Team to collaborate seamlessly and constantly without the need for me in the middle - I facilitate, coach (and occasionally referee) as needs be but my aim is for them to build an effective relationship without me.