Introduction
If you’re already a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM), the next step is mastering advanced coaching and leadership skills—similar to what the ICAgile Certified Professional in Agile Coaching (ICP-ACC) emphasizes.
This article explores how an advanced Scrum Master can coach like ICP-ACC and lead beyond A-CSM to unlock true organizational agility.
Scrum Master Evolution: From Servant Leader to Agile Coach
When you first start as a Scrum Master, your focus is mostly on:
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Ensuring teams understand Scrum.
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Facilitating ceremonies (Daily Standup, Sprint Review, etc.).
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Removing blockers for the development team.
But as you advance:
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You become a coach instead of a mere facilitator.
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You influence organizational change beyond the Scrum team.
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You help leaders embrace Agile values and servant leadership.
What is ICP-ACC?
The ICAgile Certified Professional – Agile Coaching (ICP-ACC) is a certification that focuses on:
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Professional coaching skills.
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Agile team facilitation.
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Mentoring Agile roles.
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Conflict navigation.
It’s not just about frameworks; it’s about mindset and behavior change.
What is A-CSM?
The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) builds on the CSM by focusing on:
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Advanced facilitation.
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Coaching development teams and Product Owners.
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Scaling Scrum in larger organizations.
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Building alignment with business goals.
Coach Like ICP-ACC
An advanced Scrum Master needs to step into the role of a coach rather than just a facilitator. Here’s how:
1. Active Listening and Powerful Questions
Instead of giving answers, ask open-ended questions that help teams think critically. Example: “What would success look like if we tried this experiment?”
2. Creating a Safe Environment
Psychological safety is the foundation of high-performing teams. Encourage open dialogue where mistakes are treated as learning opportunities.
3. Conflict Resolution
Healthy conflict leads to innovation. Learn coaching techniques to manage disagreements without stifling creativity.
4. Facilitation Mastery
ICP-ACC emphasizes facilitation techniques like Liberating Structures, which make meetings more engaging and outcome-driven.
Lead Beyond A-CSM
While A-CSM sharpens your Scrum Mastery at the team level, true leadership requires you to influence beyond the team.
1. Organizational Coaching
Help managers and stakeholders understand Agile principles, not just team ceremonies.
2. Scaling Agility
Work with multiple teams, applying frameworks like SAFe, LeSS, or Nexus, but adapt based on context instead of forcing one model.
3. Leadership Development
Coach leaders to adopt servant leadership and Agile values, shifting from command-and-control to empower-and-enable.
4. Driving Cultural Change
An advanced Scrum Master champions cultural transformation, fostering collaboration, transparency, and continuous learning across the organization.
Advanced Scrum Master Competencies
To truly combine the spirit of ICP-ACC and A-CSM, master these areas:
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Coaching: Guide individuals and teams to find their own solutions.
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Mentoring: Share experiences to help others grow.
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Facilitation: Enable productive conversations and decision-making.
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Teaching: Educate teams and stakeholders on Agile principles.
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Change Leadership: Influence systems and structures for agility.
Practical Techniques for Advanced Scrum Masters
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Use Coaching Stances – Switch between teaching, mentoring, facilitating, and coaching depending on the situation.
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Visual Facilitation – Use canvases, story maps, and journey maps to create clarity.
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Outcome-Focused Metrics – Shift from measuring velocity to measuring value delivered.
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Systemic Thinking – Look beyond the team and see the organization as a whole system.
ICP-ACC vs A-CSM: Key Differences
| Aspect | ICP-ACC | A-CSM |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Coaching mindset, skills, and techniques | Deepening Scrum knowledge and practices |
| Audience | Agile Coaches, Advanced Scrum Masters | Scrum Masters, Product Owners |
| Key Skills | Professional coaching, conflict resolution, facilitation | Scaling Scrum, team coaching, stakeholder management |
| Outcome | Develops into Agile Coach | Evolves into Senior Scrum Master / Team Coach |
Bridging the Gap: Becoming an Agile Leader
To coach like ICP-ACC and lead beyond A-CSM, you must embrace both technical Scrum knowledge and human-centered coaching skills.
This means:
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Stop being the “Scrum police.”
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Start being a change agent.
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Focus on outcomes over outputs.
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Lead by influence, not authority.
Future of Advanced Scrum Masters
The Scrum Master of the future will be more than a role—it will be a leadership stance. Organizations will need leaders who can:
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Navigate complexity.
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Facilitate cross-functional collaboration.
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Guide cultural transformation.
And those who combine A-CSM expertise with ICP-ACC coaching mastery will be at the forefront of Agile leadership.
Conclusion
FAQs
1. Can I do ICP-ACC without being a Scrum Master?
Yes, ICP-ACC is for anyone interested in Agile coaching, but Scrum Masters benefit the most.
2. Is A-CSM enough for becoming an Agile Coach?
A-CSM is great for deepening Scrum skills, but ICP-ACC adds professional coaching techniques.
3. How do I choose between ICP-ACC and A-CSM?
If you want to stay focused on Scrum mastery, choose A-CSM. If you want to grow as a coach, ICP-ACC is the way forward.
4. Can I do both ICP-ACC and A-CSM?
Absolutely! They complement each other—together, they prepare you for advanced Agile leadership.
5. What’s the career path after becoming an Advanced Scrum Master?
You can grow into roles like Agile Coach, Enterprise Coach, or Organizational Change Leader.
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