Basic Scrummaster Duties checklist

I really like Michael James's Scrum Master's Checklist to give us an idea of the work a Scrum Master can do to make their team the best.  However, it doesn't really show the basics of being a Scrum Master, so the following should help with that.

Scrum Master duties list:

Always:

• Nudge, steer, and help the team to do all Scrum events and activities
• Help the product owner and team in any way to be more productive
• Remember the Agile values

Before daily scrum:

• Ensure the team has updated the hours remaining on all tasks.
• Update and post the burndown chart.

During daily scrum:

• Note all impediments reported by the team for later aggressive follow-up
• Steer the team to stick to short answers to the three questions; steer them away from discussing problems or details during the scrum (Often say "this sounds like an important discussion; can we have it after the scrum?")

After daily scrum:

• Help team to overcome impediments as a top priority
• Ensure relevant team members meet to overcome impediments before doing regular work
• Keep outside distractions away from the team
• Answer (or research) all Scrum questions the team has

Anytime, to prepare for sprint planning:

• Gather info on vacation/unavailable time for all team members in the next sprint
• Ensure (help) the Product Owner refines and reorders the backlog
• Ensure the product owner prepares a sprint goal
• Schedule the next sprint planning
• Schedule the sprint review; arrange for stakeholders to attend it.
• If the stakeholders can't attend the Sprint Review, reschedule it.
• Ensure the team will prepare a demonstration for the sprint review.  Ensure it is appropriate
• Prepare any other charts or information radiators helpful for planning, such as a velocity trend chart
• Schedule a backlog estimation/refinement meeting as required

In sprint planning:

• Facilitate the entire meeting; take team through all parts
• Take notes from the retrospective
• Announce velocity in story points from last sprint
• Announce team capacity in hours for the next sprint (accommodating vacations, etc)
• Post/arrange the product backlog for sprint backlog selection
• Keep the team on track for breakdown into tasks; write/post task cards if necessary
• Ensure a reality check of task hours vs. capacity happens and adjustments made

After sprint planning:

• Create beginning burndown chart, task board, and any other information radiators

Never:

• Demand that the team take any certain action
• Assign work or take unilateral action to change a practice
• Neglect Scrum Master duties in favor of "regular work"

Once you have the above under control, consider additional duties from the Scrum Master's Checklist.