If you’ve ever tried to work a deal with a partner, you know the drill: fifteen emails, two spreadsheets, a couple of “quick” calls, and—if you’re lucky—a deal that doesn’t slip through the cracks. If you’re tired of the chaos, and you want a simple way to actually get joint deals done, this guide’s for you.
We’ll walk through how to use Partnered deal rooms (that’s Partnered), a tool that claims to make collaborating on deals with partners less painful. No fluff, just a clear rundown of what works, what to skip, and how to avoid turning another “joint opportunity” into a mess of CCs and missed deadlines.
Why joint deals fall apart (and why deal rooms help)
Before we get tactical, let’s be honest: most partner deals die because collaboration is scattershot. People use Slack, email, Google Sheets, and random phone calls. Stuff gets lost, nobody knows who’s doing what, and everyone feels like they’re bothering each other for updates.
Deal rooms—when done right—give you one shared space for everything: contacts, notes, next steps, and files. You avoid the “wait, did you send that deck?” routine and actually make progress together. But you’ve got to set them up right, and not overcomplicate things.
Step 1: Get your house in order
Before you invite anyone else in, make sure you’re ready.
What you need: - A real, qualified opportunity (not just a “maybe someday” lead) - Clarity on what you actually want from your partner (intro, intel, co-selling, etc.) - The right people on your team lined up (AE, SE, whoever’s needed)
Pro tip: Don’t create a deal room for every single lead—just for real, joint opportunities where both sides have skin in the game. Deal rooms aren’t magic; they’re just a better way to coordinate on things that matter.
Step 2: Create a deal room in Partnered
Assuming you’re logged into Partnered:
- Start a new deal room. Give it a name that’s clear to everyone (e.g., “Acme Corp - Joint Expansion”).
- Add the basics: Opportunity name, company, deal value, stage, and any relevant context.
- Decide who needs access: Add your internal team and your partner’s key contacts. Don’t invite the whole world—just the people who’ll actually work the deal.
Don’t overthink permissions. Keep it simple. If you’re nervous about sharing something, leave it out or handle it separately.
Step 3: Align on the goal—together
This is where most folks mess up: They dump info in the deal room and hope magic happens. Instead, set a quick kickoff with your partner team (15 minutes, tops). The point is to answer:
- What are we trying to accomplish together?
- Who owns which piece?
- What does “success” look like for both of us?
Add these answers as notes or pinned items in the deal room so nobody forgets.
What to skip: Don’t spend an hour rehashing the partnership. Focus on this deal, not the “big picture.”
Step 4: Share what matters (not everything)
Deal rooms get useless fast if you treat them like a junk drawer. Here’s what to actually put in:
- Relevant contacts: Who’s who on each side, with roles and emails
- Key documents: Decks, one-pagers, anything that helps move the deal
- Deal timeline: Important dates, next steps, and who owns what
- Mutual notes: Insights about the account, key blockers, or landmines
Skip: Old QBRs, org charts, or anything not directly tied to this deal. The goal is to move deals forward, not show off your Google Drive.
Step 5: Use tasks and updates (but don’t turn it into project management hell)
Partnered lets you assign tasks, set deadlines, and track updates. Use this lightly:
- Assign clear, bite-sized tasks (e.g., “Intro us to Acme’s CISO”)
- Set realistic deadlines (don’t make everything “ASAP”)
- Update status as things get done
Pitfall to avoid: Don’t pile on 20 tasks at once. Keep it focused on what actually drives the deal forward. If you need a full-blown project plan, you probably have too many cooks in the kitchen.
Step 6: Communicate—inside the deal room
Resist the urge to default to email or Slack for every update. Use comments and notes inside the deal room so everything’s tied to the opportunity. This way:
- New team members can get up to speed fast
- You don’t lose track of decisions or context
- You avoid “Did you see my email?” purgatory
Still, don’t expect everyone to check notifications religiously. If something’s urgent, a call or text still works. The deal room isn’t a replacement for actual conversations—it’s where the important stuff lives.
Step 7: Track progress, adjust, and close out
As the deal moves, keep the room current:
- Mark tasks complete, update stages, and upload any new docs
- Note any changes in deal direction or strategy
- When the deal is won (or lost), close out the room—don’t let it linger half-dead forever
Take five minutes to jot down what worked and what didn’t. It’ll save you headaches next time.
What actually works (and what doesn’t)
Works well: - Using one deal room as the single source of truth for a joint deal - Keeping updates, docs, and tasks tied to the opportunity, not scattered in inboxes - Limiting access to the right people—less noise, more action
Doesn’t work: - Treating deal rooms as just another folder or chat group - Trying to track every tiny detail—focus on what moves the deal - Overcomplicating with too many integrations or tools
Ignore this advice if: You have no real joint pipeline, or if your partner isn’t engaged. Deal rooms don’t fix a lack of partnership—they just help execute when both sides are committed.
Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)
- Adding too many people: Keep it tight. Too many voices = chaos.
- Oversharing: Only include what’s necessary. Don’t flood the room with irrelevant files or updates.
- Letting rooms go stale: If nobody’s updating, the deal’s probably dead. Don’t let deal rooms become digital graveyards.
- Assuming everyone checks the platform: If something’s critical, follow up directly.
Quick pro tips
- Templates help. If you run similar deals often, set up a default checklist or doc structure to save time.
- Set expectations up front. Make it clear what goes in the deal room vs. what stays private.
- Review closed deals. Once it’s over, look back and note what tripped you up. Rinse and repeat for next time.
Keep it simple and iterate
Deal rooms like those in Partnered can genuinely make working joint opportunities simpler—if you use them for what matters and skip the fluff. Don’t let the tool drive the process. Start small, keep things focused, and adjust as you go. Most of the value comes from clarity and shared accountability, not fancy features.
You don’t need another place for busywork. You need a straightforward way to work on real deals with your partners. Stick to that, and you’ll save time, reduce headaches, and actually close more together.