It is a dream come true for companies and human resources managers to hire a ‘unicorn employee’ or corporate superhero/superheroine. Simply put, a person who dexterously handles hectic weeks, meets crazy deadlines, puts up with formidable bosses, and always fulfills unrealistic targets. Surpri-singly, a global survey reveals that a staggering 79% of HR professionals grapple with the Herculean task of finding the ‘perfect’ employee.
There also exists a rare breed of ‘Unicorn Employees’ who transport HR personnel to La La Land and regularly earn the company fortune cookie! According to Jenisha Kiri, Founder of Le Quirks, “A unicorn employee’s ability to hit the right targets and enhance your brand value give your business or company a robust reputation in the market. Their role in pushing the right buttons at the right time is as significant as the returns it brings to your business.”
Hidden Gems
Unicorn employees are a rarity who boast a perfect blend of work experience, excellent interpersonal skills, industry expertise, and ideal educational qualifications. These self-starters seamlessly jump into a task and require minimal or no training to streamline things and improve productivity, making them a prized possession. They serve as role models to other employees. Unicorn employees are not only adept at active listening but also display unwavering patience as trainers. A unicorn employee proficiently surmounts the goals and anticipated targets of a company which might demand double time when entrusted to a typical team member. There is no denying that unicorn employees are immune to the monotony and lethargy that often creep into a job.
Real-life Unicorns
Yashita Tawde, a unicorn employee at a multinational organization does research and prepares on a topic thoroughly before a meeting.
“I articulate and explain lucidly to the team. When the entire team is synchronised, everything runs smoothly.
I usually make a task list of the first five things as a priority,” she explains.
Leading a team and juggling multiple targets, comes naturally to Yashika, who has been labeled as a ‘unicorn employee.’ Sagar Panchal, Enterprise Head at HEPL, and another unicorn staffer says, “I strategically address challenges, foster collaborations, and communicate effectively to navigate overwhelming obstacles and lead the organization to success.”
Marcelo Azavedo, a senior accounts manager at a PR company says, “After working for more than 10 years in the PR field I know the significance of being organised, and managing multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
I categorise tasks based on urgency and importance, ensuring that critical matters take precedence.”
The Flipside
Unicorns are notorious for abandoning their roles in pursuit of fresh challenges and ever-evolving opportunities. The fierce ‘poaching’ of unicorns among rival companies is rampant. Unicorn employees are lured with higher remuneration and shorter work hours. Junaid Khan, a former senior ‘unicorn employee’ from a leading PR firm says, “I worked at the organisation for eight years. But got bored due to the monotonous work. As soon as I got a better offer from a leading communications firm, I jumped and took it.”
The HR department frequently faces flak from both sides — employees and management. In their exertions to retain extraordinary talents, HR professionals often resort to offering increased salaries and more flexible leave policies to keep their unicorn employees engaged. However, this appro-ach can lead to displeasure and biased feelings among colleagues.
Sumit Sabharwal, head of HR Shared Services at Fujitsu International Regions says, “Organizations must create a culture of knowledge-sharing within teams to ensure business continuity. One must strive to emphasise that recognition is based on individual contributions in alignment with organisational goals, ensuring fairness and transparency.”
