Question for those in sales/client development

[Anonymous]

What happens when 2 sales people fight over a client?

I am new to sales and have been cultivating a relationship with a client. We have had meetings and been out to lunch and an evening event and they seem eager to work with me - just waiting for the need to arise. A co-worker had tried calling this client in the past and never got a meeting but knows the client's lawyer and found out about a potential deal. He came back to me and said he was going to go after the deal, which I (perhaps foolishly) gave him room to do. He then came back to me and offered to split it, seemingly bc the client said they were already working with me.

Fast forward a month later and they havent done anything and the client is still in contact with me. They are getting ready to send me the deal package and now co-worker wants to split it. He basically told the client thats what we were doing.

Can I (in a very nice and adult way) ask the client to choose who they want to work with? I'd like to write the client an email and say there's been some confusion over who would be taking the lead on the deal. Co-worker and I wont be splitting it, so we need client to decide with whom to proceed. Is this unprofessional? Does this happen regularly? We are a very small office (3 people) and I am new to this side of the business. Our boss just says "work it out."

I dont want to seem like a jerk but also dont want to get walked all over. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Don't ask the client to pick. It is like asking your mom which child is her favorite or which she would save if the house was on fire. Split the deal.

[Anonymous]

Agree w/ PP. Split the deal, learn your lesson, protect your turf moving forward and do not repeat same mistake.

Up to you to tell him that you think splitting is generous seeing that the level of effort on his part was certainly not at 50%.