Five lessons from a Scrum Master development journey

In the dynamic world of agile teams, the perspective of a Scrum Master is both essential and evolving. Let’s take the example of a leading consumer credit provider in Belgium and Luxembourg—part of BNP Paribas Personal Finance— where Scrum Masters play a central role in guiding agile squads across tribes. When we joined the organization about a year ago, we encountered a passionate and diverse group of five Scrum Masters, each bringing unique experience and perspectives.

What united them was their commitment to their teams. What they lacked, however, was a consistent structure for professional growth.

Recognizing this gap, the company launched a development initiative centered around Beanstalk, a structured tool designed to assess and grow Scrum Master capabilities. This was more than a learning program—it became a journey of collective transformation, grounded in self-awareness, collaboration, and peer learning.

Throughout the process of supporting this community, we uncovered several strategies that not only helped unlock individual growth but also strengthened the team as a whole.

1. Turn knowledge gaps into teaching opportunities

When someone lacks knowledge in a specific topic, the natural instinct might be to shield them or assign the topic to an expert. We did the opposite—and it paid off.

Scrum Masters with limited experience in a subject were encouraged to research it deeply, using both Beanstalk’s curated resources and their own exploration. They then shared their learnings with the community in peer-led sessions.

Tip: When someone teaches a topic they once struggled with, they not only solidify their own understanding but also foster empathy and engagement within the group.

2. Support self-reflection with guided conversations

Beanstalk begins with a self-assessment, but self-perception doesn’t always tell the whole story. Pairing the assessment with one-on-one coaching sessions created space for deeper reflection.

In these conversations, Scrum Masters often discovered new insights—sometimes realizing they knew more than they thought, and other times identifying blind spots they hadn’t considered.

Tip: Use coaching not to correct answers, but to foster honest dialogue and self-discovery. It’s not about being “right,” but about being real.

3. Prioritize learning, don’t overload it

The initial Beanstalk rollout focused only on the SM1 foundational level, despite the tool offering more advanced levels (SM2–SM5). This choice created clarity and alignment, allowing the group to build a common ground before moving on.

Tip: Not every skill needs to be mastered at once. Focus learning efforts on what matters most in the moment, and build from there.

4. Make peer learning a habit, not an event

Weekly meetings of the Scrum Master Community of Practice (CoP) became more than check-ins—they turned into collaborative working sessions and learning labs. Members shared ownership of facilitation, brought their challenges to the table, and continuously evolved their practice.

Quarterly in-person deep dives added energy, connection, and space for more immersive learning.

Tip: A thriving CoP needs rhythm, relevance, and real commitment. Empower everyone to contribute—not just participate.

5. Integrate development with organizational resources

Scrum Masters didn’t grow in isolation. The CoP stayed in sync with HR through regular collaboration with the Agile Change Team, aligning development efforts with the company’s broader learning strategy. Beanstalk also integrated seamlessly with BNP Paribas’ internal learning platforms, creating a blended and sustainable model for growth.

Tip: Connect peer learning with formal L&D resources to scale impact and build long-term career paths.

What started as a diverse group of individuals with different backgrounds and levels of experience evolved into a cohesive, self-driven community—united not just by responsibilities, but by a shared commitment to agile excellence.

Thanks to Beanstalk and the community-driven approach, Scrum Masters now support each other, own their learning, and confidently lead agile transformation across the organization. The model has proven scalable, inclusive, and deeply human—fueled by curiosity, courage, and collaboration.

Whether you're growing a team of agile coaches, Scrum Masters, or product leaders, the lesson is the same: development doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens together.