Making 'People Ops' sense for everyone

How many times have you faced the classic question, “So, what’s the deal with the ‘people operations department’?” Oh, I’ve been there too. When I was starting out, it honestly left me feeling a bit offended or annoyed. I was hustling all day and night, and it felt like someone was questioning my role. But you know what? It’s actually a pretty natural curiosity, and it’s kind of great that people care enough to ask. And I think it’s our job as People Ops leaders to show them what we’re really up to, in a simple and transparent way, so they can see all the hard work we’re putting in.  <blockquote> “So, what’s the deal with the ‘people operations department’?” </blockquote> When I first started building a People team, I noticed it can be a little tough to explain what’s going on in that department. HR terms can seem abstract for folks like Kotlin engineers who might not be familiar with them, even though they’re super clear for you and you exactly know how many complex activities these terms bring with them. Words like “Attraction” or “Retention” might not make sense, and your engineer might wonder, “What’s all the work behind this and why do we even need it? Why do we have three people in HR?” So, here’s how I made it simpler for everyone to understand. <h2>Step one: Imagine buidling a product</h2> Picture yourself designing a product that shows how our employees experience our company. Think of it like creating a simple guide. This “product guide” not only helps you understand each step better but also tells you who to ask if you’re unsure about something. It’s like having a straightforward way to communicate and find solutions. <a href="https://terkins.medium.com/mapping-out-people-ops-life-cycle-e857b1fc2534">Website</a>