UK IT channel filled with cheeky sales and marketing 'baboons'
53 per cent of respondents in our Beasts of the Jungle test came out as the fun-loving apes, 39 per cent elephants, five per cent lions and three per cent snakes
The typical IT channel worker most closely resembles a baboon when it comes to how they operate in the office environment.
That's according to CRN's Beast of the Jungle personality test, which we have been running to promote our upcoming Sales and Marketing Awards (SMAs), the deadline for which is this Friday, 29 March.
Read our top tips for entries here.
So far, 397 respondents have taken the test, which matches them to one of four jungle beasts based on their responses to six key questions or dilemmas.
You can still take the test here.
Some 211 (53 per cent) came out as cheeky, fun-loving baboons. Always on standby with a quip or cheeky comment, sales and marketing baboons are the heartbeat of the office.
Next up, 156 (39 per cent) gave answers that most closely matched with the attributes of a dependable and unwaveringly loyal elephant.
Sitting on top of the food chain, the majestic sales and marketing lion's position as top predator has made it as comfortable in its own skin as Brad Pitt on a good hair day. Gaze around your office and you will probably spot a few king of the jungle types, but - surprisingly - only 20 respondents (five per cent) are the office equivalents of these savannah dwelling, over-sized cats.
Even fewer - 10 respondents (three per cent) - gave answers that matched them to a snake, a scheming predator who will trample customers, suppliers and colleagues alike to get to the top.
Channel types are generally an honest bunch, judging from the first question, which asked how they would generally portray a competitor in the event a customer asked them for their view.
Some 83 per cent channeled their inner elephant by saying they would give an honest assessment (while being careful to take up the merits of their own firm). Some 11 per cent took after a baboon by saying they would brush off the question with a quip, six per cent were like a regal lion in that they would indicate that the question was not worthy of them, while three per cent would badmouth them like a snake.
The next question asked respondents what they would do after landing a big commission on a deal. The vast majority (71 per cent) took after a lion by saying they'd bank it and use it for something productive down the line. Some 13 per cent took after elephants by saying they'd use it to buy all their team - including the cleaner - a slap-up meal, nine per cent of espondents would blow it on champagne, cigars and a personalised number plate (snakes) and seven per cent took after baboons by saying they would give it away or just have a laugh with it as it's only money.
The third question asked respondents which type of company they would most like to work for. Some 38 per cent (the lions among you) nominated a high-paying and well respected market leader, while 37 per cent plumped for "one highly regarded across the industry for putting teamwork at its heart and giving back to the community" (elephants). In contrast, just 16 per cent most wanted to work with a firm "where you can have a laugh" (baboon), and just nine per cent for a young start-up that pays high commissions but where the motto is 'every woman or man for themselves' (snake).
Channel folks are clearly an assiduous bunch, judging from the spread of answers to the next question, which asked them what they would do if they were struggling to complete an important project and the deadline was 5pm tomorrow.
Some 46 per cent said they would "blitz it" in recognition of the fact they are "the best at what they do and that it will be a doddle" (lions), while a hard-working and loyal 40 per cent said they would work through the night to get it done because so as not to let colleagues down (elephants). Some 10 per cent would "give it a go, but if it's slapdash or a bit late, c'est la vie" (baboons), while a snake-like four per cent said they would offload the task to a junior but more talented member of their team, tell them to work on it overnight if necessary, then pass it off as their own work.
Some 74 per cent came out as elephants on the next question on the basis that if they were the boss they would be "hard-working, supportive and unwaveringly loyal". Some 14 per cent declared they would be a "joker" (baboon), 10 per cent would be "quick to admonish or jettison underperforming staff, but imperious and respected, as well as feared" (lion), and three per cent would be "laser-focused on maximising their own pay packet and chance of promotion, even at the expense of their own team" (snake).
The loyalty of the typical channel worker was on display again in the final question, which asked what they would do in the event a colleague divulged an embarrassing secret to them on a drunken night out.
Some 47 per cent said they would "take their secrets to their grave" (elephant). Just over a quarter (27 per cent) resembled baboons on this one in that they would judge how sensitive it was and if appropriate have a good laugh about it in the office the next day, while 23 per cent of lion-like respondents said they would wipe the information from their brains as such tittle tattle is beneath them. Just three per cent gave the answer a snake would by saying they would email HR the next morning in an effort to gain political capital out of the episode.