Your team keeps missing deadlines and meetings feel pointless. Everyone’s busy but nothing gets done. What’s missing from your startup’s playbook? The answer might surprise you.
If you're building a tech company and keep hearing people mention "CSM" or "Certified Scrum Master," you might be wondering what the heck that means. Don't worry - it's not as complicated as it sounds!
Think of a CSM like the best camp counselor you ever had. They don't tell everyone what to do, but they make sure everyone knows the rules of the game and that things run smoothly.
A Certified Scrum Master helps teams work better together using something called Scrum - which is just a fancy way of saying "let's break big projects into small pieces and check in regularly."
Here's what they do all day:
Remove Roadblocks: When your team gets stuck because they can't access something or need approval for something, the CSM jumps in to fix it.
Run Meetings: They make sure your team has regular check-ins (called stand-ups) that actually help instead of waste time.
Keep Everyone on Track: They help your team focus on what matters most and avoid getting distracted by shiny new ideas.
Protect the Team: When someone tries to pile extra work on your developers mid-sprint, the CSM says "nope, let's talk about this next time."
Getting certified isn't like getting a college degree - it's more like getting your driver's license. Here's what you need:
You need to complete a 16-hour training course from someone approved by the Scrum Alliance. You can do this in person over two days or online over several sessions.
After the course, you take an online test with 50 questions. You need to get 37 right (that's 74%). Don't panic - most people pass on their first try.
This is just saying "yes, I promise to follow the CSM rules."
The certification costs around $250-$300 for the test, plus whatever you paid for the course (usually $1,000-$2,000).
Here's the honest truth: if you have fewer than 5 people on your team, you probably don't need a full-time CSM. But as you grow, having someone who understands Agile methods can save you tons of headaches.
A good CSM can help you:
This confuses a lot of people. A Project Manager tells people what to do and when to do it. A CSM helps people figure out the best way to work together.
Think of it this way: A Project Manager is like a boss giving orders. A CSM is like a coach helping the team play better.
At Keiboarder, our Fractional CTO, Edie Woelfle, is a Certified Scrum Master who's helped everyone from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies get their teams working smoothly and shipping products on time.
Having someone who actually knows how to implement Scrum properly (not just someone who read about it online) makes a huge difference in how fast your team can move and how happy they are while doing it.
If you already have someone on your team who's good at keeping things organized and helping people work together, getting them CSM certified could be a smart move.
The certification teaches them specific tools and methods that actually work. Plus, it shows investors and clients that you're serious about doing things the right way.
A CSM isn't just someone with a fancy certificate on their wall. They're the person who helps your team work like a well-oiled machine instead of a bunch of people running around in circles.
If your team is constantly missing deadlines, having confusing meetings, or feels like they're always fighting fires, a Certified Scrum Master might be exactly what you need.
Ready to get your team working like pros with expert guidance? Contact us for all your software development and fractional CTO needs!
