Apparently Rarity is one of the main characters who is specifically a unicorn, not an earth pony, pegasus, or alicorn. But you already knew that didn’t you.
My 8-year-old daughter seems to be slightly past the peak of her My Little Pony fandom, but over the last few years she has logged many hours immersed in the world of Equestria, and it has worked its way into my consciousness. I have been known to break into a My Little Pony musical number when the moment calls for it. (Which is fairly often since the songs are surprisingly good. “Apples to the Core” is such an earworm. Sia singing “Rainbow?!?” C’mon, it's great.)
So it was that the world of Equestria popped to mind when someone recently said that it sounds like we’re looking for “unicorns” when we’re helping organizations hire.
Why unicorns? Because we’re looking for people who understand technology well and are also able to communicate with regular humans effectively. Who are optimistic, great communicators, and have a talent for understanding a wide array of needs. Who make it their business to understand the mission, the roadmap, and how every piece of the organization’s tools, platforms, and customized digital products are being used by everyone, and then to weave that into a coherent roadmap, constantly evolving and adjusting and communicating along the way.
“Sounds like you’re looking for unicorns!”
Yes.
Fine.
It’s true. These people can be described as unicorns. But if we’re looking for unicorns, we’re looking for unicorns in the world of Equestria. Because, as the resident My Little Pony expert in my house confirmed, there are plenty of unicorns in Equestria. (“Obviously,” she added, with some exasperation.)
Yes, unicorns are special and talented. Yes, they can do things that “earth ponies” can’t. Unicorns have the gift of magic! Not even pegasi can do magic, my daughter informs me. (It’s the plural of pegasus, keep up.)
But in Equestria, unicorns are a solid segment of the population. There are plenty of unicorns out there.
There are many technology unicorns “out there” in our world as well. You might have been looking for the wrong qualities in a technology person, so you didn’t even notice the unicorns around.
Or, even more likely, you might not have given the unicorns a reason to show up at your door. If you were a unicorn, would you show up for a job pulling a plow through a field? Sounds like a waste of unicorn magic.
A unicorn needs a unicorn-worthy job. That’s your responsibility as an organization.
What are you using your technology for? Is it the bare minimum you can get away with? “We just need to track our donations and bulk email lists?” Or “we have to store people’s contact info somewhere?” Or “we just want to describe our programs on our website?”
How much attention are you paying to your technology? The minimum you can spare from your “real” work? Does it begrudgingly get resources only when things get so bad that you absolutely have to pay attention?
If those are your answers, you don’t need a unicorn and you probably couldn’t keep one.
But what if you’re looking to take your organization to an entirely new level? What if you realize that you ability to deliver better services and programs, your ability to make the most of every staff and volunteer hour, your ability to attract donors and supporters, and even your ability to accomplish the things your organization will soon brag about that you haven’t identified yet… that those accomplishments are inextricably linked to your ability to execute and innovate with technology?
Your organization needs to recognize that there is a gap between its needs and its technology, and then give someone the space to dig into it, have all of the relevant conversations, understand the systems, talk to outside experts, prioritize and coordinate the improvements, and never stop finding ways to make it all better.
If that’s your vision, and you pair that together with a well resourced, well structured, well supported team… now that’s sounding like a unicorn-worthy job. Put the word out on that and see who shows up.
Unicorns are special. They will change your entire game, and you will never go back. You have to put care into finding and keeping them. But they’re out there, and they’re looking for a place to grow and nourish their skills, to have their magic valued and appreciated, and to make everything around them better.
Are you giving your organization a chance to be that place? Are you asking your technology ponies to plod along plowing a field, or are you setting the stage for magic-wielding unicorns to harness their impressive range of skills helping you and your team reach heights that you never even dreamed were possible?
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NOTE: If you suspect your organization may be harboring a unicorn and either flourishing because of it or possibly underutilizing the person, we'd love to chat and learn more, so we can get smarter about this stuff. Just reply to this email to say hi. Reach out to us@thebuildtank.com.
Or if you think YOU may be the kind of unicorn we've described here, whether or not your current job reflects it, we'd love to hear from you as well. (It's ok to out yourself as a unicorn, you're among friends. :)