How do we transition traditional "Project Managers" into SAFe roles like Scrum Master or RTE?

All answers to this question.

The biggest hurdle is moving from "Control" to "Empowerment." Traditional PMs are used to being the "owners" of the schedule and the decision-makers for the team. As an RTE or Scrum Master, they have to learn that the team owns the plan. Their new job is to facilitate the process and remove impediments. I recommend they take the "SAFe Release Train Engineer" certification course, but more importantly, they need a mentor who has lived through the shift. We found that PMs with strong interpersonal skills thrive as RTEs, while those who love technical coaching are better suited for the Scrum Master role.

   Answered 2024-01-17 by Nancy Roberts

Is it common for PMs to struggle with the "unpredictability" of Agile? In our company, the former PMs keep trying to create detailed 6-month GANTT charts inside the PI.

   Answered 2024-01-20 by David Martinez

• David, that’s the "Waterfall in a SAFe jacket" trap. We solved this by forcing the former PMs to focus on "Flow Metrics" instead of milestones. Once they saw that Cycle Time and Throughput gave them more accurate data for forecasting than a GANTT chart ever did, they started to trust the system. It takes about three PIs for that old mindset to fully fade away and for the new Servant Leadership habits to stick.

     Commented 2024-01-23 by Kenneth Lopez

Don't forget the "Product Owner" path. Some PMs are actually better suited for the business side of SAFe if they have a deep understanding of customer needs.

   Answered 2024-01-26 by Barbara Taylor

• Good point, Barbara. PMs who were very "scope-focused" often make excellent Product Owners because they know how to prioritize and say "no" to stakeholders.

     Commented 2024-01-28 by Christopher Evans