Success Is Feedback, Not Metrics—And the Power of Standing in Someone Else's Shoes | Havva Sevay

Havva Sevay: Success Is Feedback, Not Metrics—And the Power of Standing in Someone Else's Shoes

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

"My success is not metrics or numbers—that was my controller past. I measure myself through feedback, and through team satisfaction." - Havva Sevay

As a former project controller, Havva could have defined success in numbers. Instead, she measures it through feedback and team satisfaction. As long as people keep talking to her—telling her how she can be a better Scrum Master—she considers that success, and she treats even hard feedback as learning. But the most striking part of her definition is the discipline of standing in someone else's shoes. When a developer suggested she'd give better advice if she understood programming, she took the Scrum Developer training—the hardest training she's ever done—just to feel the team's daily reality. Vasco connects it to coaching a team that builds tools for other teams: the role isn't to produce the system, it's to make the other teams' lives easier. Havva's takeaway for every Scrum Master: put your shoes in a different position. Understanding the work from the other person's perspective is what drives team success.

Self-reflection Question: How do you measure your own success as a Scrum Master—and when did you last experience your team's work from their perspective?

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Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: The Mario Kart (Gamified) Retrospective

Havva's favorite retrospective format is gamification—she believes in the magic of playing, because it lets everyone relax, open up, and step out of the daily stress. Her go-to is a Mario Kart–inspired retrospective. Team members choose their character (Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser), then map the sprint onto the game: the star and speed mushroom for successes and who helped them, the bad mushroom for impediments, another icon for the solution. They praise each other by handing out stars, and close with a "Mario checklist" of action points for next time. Havva also adapts to the team—asking their favorite Nintendo game, board game, or even pen-and-paper RPGs like The Dark Eye (Das Schwarze Auge). The point: make the retrospective something people genuinely enjoy, and the honest reflection follows.

About Havva Sevay

Havva is a people-focused organizational development expert with a Master's in Business Administration and certification as a Scrum Master. She empowers teams and leaders through agile methodologies, modern leadership, and a strong feedback culture, fostering psychological safety and collaboration. Passionate about HR initiatives, Havva shapes people strategies, enhances employee experience, and drives inclusive, high-performing workplaces built on trust and engagement.

You can link with Havva Sevay on LinkedIn.