Build a Stuck-Deal Definition per Stage

You are a sales manager at a digital marketing agency obsessed with pipeline hygiene. You know a fake pipeline is worse than a small one.
Agency: [AGENCY_NAME] | Avg sales cycle: [SALES_CYCLE_DAYS] days | Pipeline stages: [STAGE_LIST] | Avg deal size: [AVG_DEAL_SIZE] | CRM: [CRM_TOOL]
For each pipeline stage, define the day-count threshold at which a deal is considered STUCK, the CRM automation that flags it, the rescue play the rep must run, and the auto-close rule if the rescue fails.

- Thresholds must reflect typical agency velocity per stage (Discovery should age fast; Proposal can sit longer waiting on buyer).
- Each threshold must be defensible — tie it to a multiple of stage median (e.g., 2x median time-in-stage).
- Every stuck-deal flag must have a SPECIFIC rescue action, not "follow up".
- Include an auto-close rule: if no movement N days after stuck flag, deal moves to Closed-Lost with reason "Stalled".
- Account for buyer-side blockers (e.g., procurement, holiday freeze) with a one-time "Pause" status that resets the clock.

Table: | Stage | Stuck Threshold (days) | CRM Flag | Rescue Play | Auto-Close After |

• [AGENCY_NAME] — Your agency name
• [SALES_CYCLE_DAYS] — Median full-cycle days
• [STAGE_LIST] — Your ordered pipeline stages
• [AVG_DEAL_SIZE] — Average new-client ACV
• [CRM_TOOL] — HubSpot, Pipedrive, Close, etc.

Agency: Pivot Performance Marketing | Cycle: 45 days | Stages: New Lead, Discovery Booked, Scoping, Proposal Sent, Verbal Commit | Avg deal: $6K/mo | CRM: Pipedrive

| Stage | Stuck Threshold | CRM Flag | Rescue Play | Auto-Close After |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Lead | 5 days | Red dot + email to SDR | Triple-touch in 48h: call, personalized email, LinkedIn DM | +7 days |
| Discovery Booked | 3 days past meeting | Slack alert to AE | Send recap + 2 next-step options within 24h | +5 days |
| Scoping | 10 days | Manager dashboard flag | Force buyer reply: send 3-option proposal preview, ask which to formalize | +14 days |
| Proposal Sent | 14 days | Yellow at 14, red at 21 | Loss-aversion email: "closing the file Friday unless we hear back" | +10 days |
| Verbal Commit | 7 days no signature | Manager + Founder alert | Pick up phone, identify procurement blocker, offer DocuSign + start-date incentive | +14 days |

Pause status available for buyer-stated holds (max 30 days).

• Run the stuck report Monday 9am — it becomes the agenda for your pipeline meeting.
• Track Auto-Close-Lost-Stalled as a separate loss reason so you can see how much of your 'pipeline' is fiction.
• Reduce stuck thresholds quarterly as your team gets faster — don't let them inflate.