People Ops Playbook

Most managers want to be great coaches, but few are actually taught how. The result? 1:1s become status updates, feedback gets delayed, and managers end up solving problems for their teams instead of helping people think through challenges themselves.

In this episode, Vara sits down with Anne Louise, National Manager of Leadership Development at YMCA Canada, to unpack what effective coaching looks like in practice. They cover how to run better 1:1s, give behavior-based feedback without making it personal, balance empathy with accountability, and know when coaching needs to shift into performance management.

Ann Louise also shares a simple framework managers can use right away: Connect → Clarify → Be Curious → Close.

Resources mentioned: Dare to Lead by Brené Brown, Simon Sinek, LinkedIn Learning.

Connect with the host: Vara Lakshmi
Connect with the guest: Anne-Louise Blaikie

In this episode, Vara and Halisi, Founder of Workplace Investigations break down everything HR and business leaders need to know about staying compliant from contractor misclassification to handling terminations, workplace conflicts, and layoffs the right way.

You’ll learn how to:

- Spot legal blind spots before they cost your company

- Handle investigations and employee relations with empathy - Build safer, fairer workplaces where people feel heard and manage conflicts better.

Resources:

Employment Law Now Podcast

What the Hell Just Happened?! Podcast

Workplace Investigations LLC

In this kickoff to the new automation series on PeopleOps Playbook, special guest Martin Hauck, founder of the People People Group - a 5,000+ strong HR community shares how he’s used tools like Zapier, Circle, and TextExpander to streamline onboarding, personalize member experiences, and build genuine engagement at scale. From automating repetitive tasks to preserving the human touch, this episode is packed with practical tips for People leaders looking to work smarter.

Great automation tools:

TextExpander - Automating LinkedIn connection messages for new community members

Zapier – Orchestrating the member journey after application approval.

Circle – Integrating with Zapier to trigger onboarding workflows and welcome sequences.

Typeform – Collecting new member applications in a visually appealing, user-friendly form

Martin Hauck [Guest] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinhauck/

Vara Lakshmi [Host] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/varalakshmi06/

People People Community Group: https://www.thepeoplepeoplegroup.com

In this episode of People Ops Playbook, DEI leader Daniel O’Neill brings a refreshingly real perspective on what it actually looks like to create inclusive workplaces. From running impactful trainings to learning through moments of failure, Daniel shares practical stories, tools, and trusted organizations that shaped his work. Whether you’re designing your first DEI initiative or recalibrating after burnout, this conversation is filled with honest insights, humility, and hope.

Welcome back to People Ops Playbook! In this episode, we dive into the power of data with Emma, an HR pro from Australia with nearly 20 years of experience. We explore how data can move HR from reporting to real strategy—covering flight risks, workforce planning, and avoiding vanity metrics.

In this episode of PeopleOps Playbook, host Vara sits down with psychology of change expert Mona Momtazian to explore what truly sets high-performing teams apart. From psychological safety and intrinsic motivation to leadership’s role in fostering resilience, they uncover actionable strategies to build teams that thrive. Whether you're an HR professional or a leader, tune in for practical insights on creating a culture of collaboration, autonomy, and sustained high performance! 🚀

#Leadership #HighPerformingTeams #PeopleOps

Workplace toxicity doesn’t just hurt morale—it holds back growth and success.

In this episode of People Ops Playbook, we’re joined by Julia Cartwright, ACC—a seasoned HR leader, Certified Executive Adlerian Coach, and culture transformation expert with 20+ years of experience. Together, we explore how HR can tackle toxic cultures and turn them into thriving, high-performing environments.

✨ Learn practical frameworks to clean up toxicity
✨ Discover real-life success stories
✨ Get actionable strategies to boost engagement and performance

Follow for more insights on HR, people operations, and building better workplaces!

As we approach the end of the year, many of us are looking for ways to make next year our most impactful yet. In this episode, our guest, Maude Royer, founder of Hoom Consulting, shares invaluable insights on how she approaches building great projects for her clients.

• Getting the full picture of a company—understanding culture, people, and challenges in a short amount of time.
• Frameworks she uses to identify gaps and prioritize based on what’s needed by HR, employees, and leadership.
• Navigating the complexities and unexpected roadblocks in people projects to drive results.

If you’re ready to level up your People Ops game, tune in to learn more! 🎙️

In this video, I’m joined by Mona Momtazian, a psychology of change expert with over 20 years of experience in organizational change from Australia. Mona shares an incredible wealth of knowledge, frameworks, tools, and practical examples on managing change effectively. Discover how to make your HR initiatives successful with proven strategies and valuable insights from the field.