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Key takeaways:
- Deals that include a Mutual Action Plan (MAP) have a 60% win rate, nearly double the baseline of 29%.
- MAPs with 6–10 completed steps achieve an 84% win rate.
- MAPs with 11–15 completed steps reach a 92% win rate, the highest success range.
- The sweet spot for win rates sits between 6–20 total steps.
- Overly complex plans (30+ steps) see win rates drop back to baseline, keep it focused.
- Introduce your MAP early and keep it mutual to maintain momentum through the sales cycle.
You're one sales cycle away from discovering the power of structure.
If your “next steps” live in a follow-up email…
Or worse - in your head…
You’re leaving deals on the table.
Because deals without direction stall.
But the data is clear:
Pods that include a Mutual Action Plan see 2x higher win rates.
That’s not theory. That’s data from hundreds of Pods.
What’s a Mutual Action Plan?
It’s your shared, buyer-facing timeline that outlines what needs to happen (and when) for a deal to close.
Think of it as your co-signed blueprint for success.
It’s not just a to-do list - it’s a deal accelerator.
And the numbers prove it 👇
The data: Mutual Action Plans = More wins
We dug into hundreds of Pods to uncover what separates the deals that close from the ones that crash and burn.
And the difference? It often comes down to one thing: structure.
Deals that included a Mutual Action Plan were twice as likely to close as those that didn’t, with average win rates jumping from 29% to nearly 60%.
But it gets even more interesting when you look at how detailed those plans are.
Mutual Action Plans with 6–10 completed steps closed a massive 84% of the time.
Stretch that to 11–15 steps, and win rates skyrocketed to 92%.
In other words, structure scales results.
Let that sink in:
A well-balanced Mutual Action Plan doesn’t just help - it supercharges your sales cycle.
But there’s a caveat.
Add too much structure - think 30+ steps - and win rates fall back to earth. Overengineered plans confuse buyers, shift ownership back to the rep, and get buried under “we’ll look at this later.”
That’s the danger zone.
Too much = just as bad as none at all.
So what’s the move?
Stick to the 6–15 step range.
It’s structured enough to drive momentum, but lean enough to stay buyer-friendly.
It’s not about flooding your Pod with tasks.
It’s about creating clarity, building confidence, and keeping everyone aligned - without overwhelming your champion.
Why Mutual Action Plans actually work
Let’s get real: your champion is doing your job for you when you’re not in the room.
And if you’re not giving them the tools to sell internally?
You’re making their life harder. That’s where deals fall apart.
Mutual Action Plans work because they:
- Remove ambiguity
- Make next steps mutual, not one-sided
- Turn ghosting into momentum
- Help your champion navigate their internal process
They give your buyer confidence that you have a process - and make it easier for them to follow one.
How to build a Mutual Action Plan that actually helps you win
Not all Mutual Action Plans are created equal. Here’s how to avoid the fluff and make yours count:
✅ Start early. Don’t wait until legal review to introduce a Mutual Action Plan.
✅ Make it mutual. Your steps AND theirs.
✅ Keep it short. Aim for that 6–15 step sweet spot.
✅ Use trumpet Pods to collaborate. Buyers can check in, update progress, and stay aligned - without email chains using an interactive Mutual Action Plan Widget.
Bonus: when your Mutual Action Plan lives in a Pod, it’s not buried in a doc or spreadsheet. It’s right there - next to your deck, demo, and contract.
Bottom line?
If you’re not using a Mutual Action Plan, you’re relying on hope.
And hope isn’t a strategy. Especially in Q3.
A Start building your deals like you mean to close them.
![How to Get Started with Buyer Enablement [With Examples]](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65cf4fecbed2754c2236665d/65cf4fecbed2754c22366bdb_65a5af83e742f76e34ce06f3_Customer%2520Onboarding%2520_%2520Everything%2520you%2520need%2520(2).png)
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