Product Owner as a Servant-Leader

When asked, “Who is the Servant-Leader in Scrum?”, the most common answer is: the Scrum Master. However, servant-leadership is not limited to the Scrum Master role alone. Every role in a Scrum Team serves others in some way. Let's explore the Product Owner as a servant-leader.

What is Servant Leadership?

The phrase “servant leadership” was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in the essay “The Servant as Leader” (1970):

"The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first."

How a Product Owner Serves Others

• Serves customers by delivering high-value features/products.
• Aligns with the company's goals and mission.
• Ensures clear communication of Product Backlog items.
• Helps the Scrum Master understand business needs.
• Uses empirical data to make informed decisions.

Growth and Impact

Greenleaf also stated:

“To make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served… Do those served grow as persons?”

The Role of a Product Owner in Team Growth

• Inspires the Development Team with a strong product vision.
• Answers customer needs and solves their problems.
• Aligns the organization around the product vision.
• Encourages experimentation and empiricism.
• Challenges the status quo to innovate for the future.

Success as a Product Owner

• Measures success by addressing user needs effectively.
• Focuses on value creation for stakeholders.
• Helps the Development Team understand the impact of their work.
• Coaches and mentors the team to develop the right product.

Are You a Servant-Leader?

Do you serve your team, Scrum Master, users, and organization in various ways? If so, you may proudly add “Servant-Leader” to your role alongside being a visionary, entrepreneur, and sponsor.

Enjoy your expanded role… Happy Servant-Leadership!