This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Gásten Sauzande
If you’re a new Scrum Master — or managing your own agile process with Zenhub — chances are you’ve thought:
“Wait… am I using this the right way?”
I’ve been a Scrum Master for over 4 years, and I’ve run 100+ Sprints across multiple teams. Zenhub is powerful, but without a clear setup and a lightweight process, it can get messy really fast.
This post is a breakdown of how to use Zenhub effectively as a Scrum Master, with just the essentials:
Clean workflows
Epics that stay organized
The right reports
Fewer clicks, more clarity
Let’s jump in.
1. Set up a Workflow That Matches Reality
Your Zenhub Board is your team’s visual heartbeat. But most default boards include too many stages. I’ve found this simple setup works best for 95% of teams:
**To Do
In Progress
Review / Testing
Done**
Optional: Add “Blocked” or “Ready for Review” if your team prefers more visibility.
Pro tip: Use Zenhub automations to move cards when PRs are opened/merged. It saves a ton of manual board wrangling.
2. Use Epics Strategically
Epics are great — until they become vague “buckets” that collect random issues.
How I use them:
Keep Epics goal-focused (e.g. “Improve onboarding experience” not “UI updates”)
Link only issues directly contributing to that goal
Bonus tip: Add an acceptance checklist inside the Epic description. It helps the team define “done” at a higher level.
3. Keep Issue Types Clear
Zenhub doesn’t enforce strict issue types — you define your own system. Use labels like:
story – user-facing work
bug – defects
task – tech debt or behind-the-scenes work
retro-action – improvement items from retros
spike – timeboxed research
Label consistently
Create GitHub issue templates to ensure that the team follows the agreed upon structure.
4. Focus on These Reports
Zenhub has lots of reports, but for Scrum, I only check these regularly:
Burndown Chart
Use it to guide mid-Sprint conversations
Don’t panic if you’re “behind” — look for patterns, not perfection
Velocity Report
Great for planning future Sprints
Use average story points completed (not one-off spikes)
Lead Time / Cycle Time
Helpful for spotting bottlenecks
If “In Progress” items sit too long, something’s stuck
Want the Full Toolkit?
I turned all of these insights into a lightweight, no-fluff toolkit called the Zenhub Agile Toolkit.
It includes:
Checklists for Daily Scrum, Sprint Planning, and Retros- A Zenhub setup guide
- People-focused coaching tips
- Templates and real meeting formats
All based on real-world Scrum, not theory.
Download the Toolkit here
Final Thoughts
Zenhub is one of the better tools for dev-focused teams — but it needs a little shaping. With the right workflow and just a few best practices, it can become your team’s most reliable dashboard.
Let me know in the comments:
What’s one thing you struggled with when setting up Zenhub or running your first Sprints? 
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Gásten Sauzande