CSM Scrum Master Core Competencies Practice Question
Which THREE traits demonstrate that a Scrum Master is effectively acting as a servant-leader?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often select command-and-control behaviors, confusing assigning tasks and managing people with true servant-leadership and team self-management.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Removing impediments that block the team.
Servant-leadership focuses on the needs of the team and the organization, prioritizing growth and removing impediments. An effective Scrum Master does not command but enables. These traits foster trust, improve team autonomy, and create an environment where high-performing, self-organizing teams can thrive by focusing on continuous improvement and the delivery of value rather than adhering to rigid, top-down control structures.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Assigning specific tasks to team members.
Why it's wrong here
Assigning tasks is a command-and-control practice that undermines team self-organization. Servant-leaders trust the team to distribute work based on their own capacity and expertise. By directing work, the Scrum Master becomes a bottleneck and prevents the team from developing the skills needed for true collective ownership and accountability.
- ✓
Removing impediments that block the team.
Why this is correct
Removing impediments is a core responsibility that directly supports the team's flow. By handling blockers, the Scrum Master shields the team from external noise, allowing them to focus on the Sprint Goal. This service-oriented behavior builds deep trust and respect within the team and demonstrates commitment to their success.
- ✓
Facilitating collaborative decision-making processes.
Why this is correct
Facilitation promotes shared ownership and consensus. By ensuring everyone's voice is heard, the Scrum Master creates a culture of inclusion and respect. This approach is essential for high-performing teams, as it leverages the collective intelligence of the group to solve complex problems and make more informed, durable decisions.
- ✓
Focusing on coaching the team toward self-management.
Why this is correct
Coaching towards self-management is the ultimate goal of a servant-leader. By empowering the team to make their own choices, the Scrum Master builds capability and independence. This ensures that the team can continue to improve and deliver value even when the Scrum Master is not directly involved in tasks.
- ✗
Judging the team's performance based on velocity.
Why it's wrong here
Using velocity as a performance metric is an anti-pattern that encourages gaming the system. A servant-leader focuses on team health, value delivery, and continuous learning. Judging the team on metrics alone diminishes psychological safety and distracts the team from the primary goal of creating high-quality, customer-focused product increments.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Scrum Alliance exam blueprint
This CSM practice question is part of Courseiva's free Scrum Alliance certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CSM exam.