If you’re tired of sales cycles dragging on and clients ghosting after a “great” call, you’re not alone. Most deals get stuck because nobody’s clear on who’s doing what, by when. That’s where mutual action plans (MAPs) come in handy—they’re simple, shared checklists that keep everyone honest and moving forward.
This guide is for sales folks, customer success teams, and anyone who wants to actually get stuff done with clients. We’ll walk through how to build a MAP in Dock, share it without friction, and avoid common headaches. If you’ve ever emailed a spreadsheet and hoped for the best, this is for you.
What’s a Mutual Action Plan (and Why Bother)?
A mutual action plan is just a living, shared list of next steps, deadlines, and owners—yours and your client’s. The idea: make it dead obvious what needs to happen to get a deal across the finish line or onboard a new customer.
Why bother? - Less confusion. Everyone knows what’s next. - Less “just following up…” emails. - Fewer deals lost to inertia.
Dock makes this easier than email threads or static spreadsheets. You get a shared workspace, real-time updates, and no more “which version is this?” headaches.
Step 1: Get Your Dock Account Set Up
Before you can share a plan, you need an account. Obvious, but worth saying.
- Go to Dock and sign up. (Free trials are usually available, but you’ll want a paid plan for real client work.)
- Set up your workspace and connect any integrations you need (like Slack or Google Drive). Don’t overthink it—get the basics running.
Pro tip: If your team already has Dock, ask for access before spinning up a new account. Nobody likes duplicate workspaces.
Step 2: Decide What Actually Belongs in Your Plan
This is where most people mess up. Don’t just copy-paste your internal sales checklist. A good mutual action plan: - Covers only the steps that require client input or review. - Is short enough to not scare people off (think 5–10 steps). - Has clear owners and realistic deadlines.
What works: - Key milestones (contract review, legal, procurement, onboarding kickoff) - Who’s responsible (by name, not “the client”) - Realistic dates (not “ASAP”)
What doesn’t: - Internal tasks your client doesn’t care about - Vague steps like “Align on goals” (what does that mean?) - Fake deadlines
Step 3: Create a Mutual Action Plan in Dock
Let’s make your first plan.
- Create a new workspace for your client or deal.
- In Dock, you can have a workspace per client or per deal. Click “New Workspace,” name it after your client/company, and invite your team if needed.
- Add a “Mutual Action Plan” section.
- Dock calls these “Plans” or “Project Plans.” Add one to your workspace.
- Add your steps.
- For each step, include:
- Task name (“Sign Order Form”)
- Owner (you or your client’s actual name)
- Due date (be realistic)
- Notes or links (if needed)
- Keep it simple.
- Aim for clarity. If you’re not sure a step is needed, leave it out for now.
Pro tip: Dock lets you save plan templates. Use this to save time for similar deals, but don’t get lazy—customize for each client.
Step 4: Share the Plan with Your Client
Here’s where Dock shines over spreadsheets.
- Invite your client by email.
- Use Dock’s “Share” or “Invite” button. Clients don’t need to create an account to view or comment, but if you want them to edit steps, they’ll need to sign up (not always a slam dunk—see below).
- Send a personal note.
- Don’t just fire off an invite. Explain in your own words why the plan matters: > “Here’s our shared action plan—this should make it easier for both of us to keep things moving. Let me know if anything looks off or if you want to adjust dates.”
- Follow up live.
- Walk through the plan on a call or screen share. This gets buy-in and surfaces any hidden blockers.
What works: - Framing it as “our plan,” not “my checklist.” - Making it collaborative, not a homework assignment.
What doesn’t: - Surprising people with a plan they didn’t ask for. - Expecting clients to update things without a nudge.
Step 5: Keep the Plan Alive (Don’t Let It Die in the Dark)
A mutual action plan is only useful if people actually look at it. Here’s how to keep it from becoming just another abandoned doc:
- Reference the plan in every touchpoint. “Just bumping this to the top of our shared plan—let me know if you’re stuck on step 3.”
- Update deadlines if things slip. Real life happens. Adjust and move on.
- Mark steps as done, visibly. Dock auto-updates progress, which helps everyone see momentum (or lack thereof).
- Don’t go overboard. Weekly or biweekly nudges are plenty unless you’re on a tight deadline.
Pro tip: If your client stops engaging, don’t assume they’re lost. Sometimes they just need a gentle reminder—or they’re waiting on their own internal approvals.
What to Ignore (Seriously, Skip This Stuff)
Dock is packed with features, but here’s what you can skip for mutual action plans:
- Overcomplicated automations: Unless you’re running 100+ deals a month, you probably don’t need to auto-trigger 10 follow-ups.
- Excessive branding: A logo’s fine, but nobody bought because your workspace had the prettiest theme.
- Internal-only steps: Keep these in your CRM or internal docs, not in the client-facing plan.
- Chasing perfection: Your first plan won’t be perfect. Good enough is good enough.
Honest Takes: What Works, What Doesn’t
What works: - Real collaboration (clients adding their own tasks or moving dates) - Clear deadlines (“by Friday, June 10th” not “soon”) - Small, actionable steps (not vague big-picture goals) - Reviewing the plan live—not just sharing a link
What doesn’t: - Plans that are too long or detailed - Forcing clients to sign up for Dock if they don’t want to (some folks just won’t—accept it) - Assuming silence means agreement
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Overthink It
Mutual action plans aren’t magic. They’re just a way to make deals less confusing and keep everyone honest. Dock makes the logistics easier, but it’s still on you to drive the process and keep it human. Start small, keep your plan short, and don’t be afraid to tweak as you go. The main thing? Don’t let things stall out in a black hole of “next steps” that nobody owns.
If you keep it simple and actually use the plan, you’ll close more deals and have fewer headaches. That’s about as much as any tool can promise.