google-site-verification: google4283fb30fde0af74.html
top of page

Cookie Licking

Part I:  Description

Cookie Licking: A Sabotaging Sales Tactic

The term "cookie licking" refers to a harmful sales practice where a salesperson deliberately contacts a prospect already engaged with another salesperson in their company. Its aim is to disrupt the existing sales process and steal the deal.


Why It's Called "Cookie Licking"

  • Analogy: Like a child licking a cookie in a package, leaving it tainted for others. The prospect is "marked" as their territory, regardless of who initiated the contact.


Why Cookie Licking is Harmful

  • Internal Conflict: Creates tension and competition between colleagues, damaging team morale.

  • Poor Client Experience: Confuses prospects, erodes trust in the company as a whole.

  • Undermines Company Goals: Prioritizes individual gain over overall sales success.

  • Ethical Breach: In some cases, it might even violate company policies or contracts.


Preventing Cookie Licking

  • Clear Communication: Establish protocols for lead assignment and updates within the sales team.

  • CRM System: Accurate tracking of prospect interactions reduces confusion.

  • Strong Leadership: Managers must enforce policies against this behavior.

  • Collaborative Culture: Reward teamwork and collective wins, disincentivizing cutthroat tactics.

Part II:  Common Questions

1. Is cookie licking always intentional?

  • Answer: Sometimes it's a genuine error, especially in companies with poor lead tracking. However, it's often deliberate, driven by a competitive mindset.


2. Why is cookie licking considered so harmful?

  • Answer: Here's why it's damaging:

    • Ruins team trust: Creates resentment and suspicion among colleagues.

    • Wastes resources: Salespeople duplicate efforts, or worse, fight over the prospect.

    • Confuses clients: Getting conflicting messages erodes trust in the company.

    • Long-term costs: Negative reputation within the industry can hurt future deals.


3. Does cookie licking happen in every sales environment?

  • Answer: Unfortunately, it can occur anywhere with commission-based compensation and unclear territory definitions. However, companies with these qualities reduce the risk:

    • Strong ethical culture

    • Leadership that prioritizes collaboration

    • Transparent lead management systems


4. As a salesperson, how do I handle a suspected "cookie lick" situation?

  • Answer: Tread carefully:

    • Gather evidence: Document client interactions, proving your prior engagement.

    • Talk to your manager: Seek guidance, don't confront the other salesperson alone.

    • Focus on the client: Frame it as protecting the client experience, not just your deal.

    • Be professional: Resist the temptation to get personal, this weakens your position.


5. I'm a sales manager, how can I prevent cookie licking?

  • Answer: Requires proactivity:

    • Clear policies: Outline what constitutes a valid lead, and consequences for violations.

    • Robust CRM: Accurate tracking makes it harder to claim ignorance.

    • Open communication: Salespeople shouldn't fear asking for clarification on a lead.

    • Incentivize collaboration: Reward assists or team-based achievements.

Part III:  Additional Resources

While there likely aren't whole books dedicated solely to the concept of cookie licking, here's a selection of resources where you can learn more about this practice, the ethical concerns it raises, and how to prevent it within sales teams.


Websites about Cookie Licking

  • Sales Blogs: Search for blogs run by sales experts or aimed at sales professionals. Look for posts on the topics of:

    • Ethical sales practices

    • Lead management

    • Building collaborative sales teams

  • Salesforce Help Forums: (https://trailhead.salesforce.com/) Explore discussions on lead tracking and management strategies as these often touch on cookie licking.

  • LinkedIn Groups for Sales Professionals: Join groups and participate in discussions where experienced salespeople share tips and challenges.

  • News Sites on Business Ethics: Search for articles discussing unethical sales tactics, which may include examples of cookie licking.


Books about Cookie Licking

  • Sales Management Books: Often address issues of team dynamics and fair lead distribution, relevant to preventing cookie licking. Look for authors like Kevin Davis, or Colleen Stanley.

  • Books on Ethical Selling: While not specifically about this tactic, they reinforce the values that counteract a "cookie licking" culture. Examples: "Integrity Works" by Randy Grieser or "To Sell is Human" by Daniel Pink


Other Resources about Cookie Licking

  • Sales Training Webinars: Search for webinars on lead management, fostering healthy competition, or team-based selling.

Part IV:  Disclaimer

These results were highly selected, curated, and edited by The Nexus Inititiative. To make this amount of complimentary content available at a cost-effective level for our site visitors and clients, we have to rely on, and use, resources like Google Gemini and other similar services.

bottom of page