# Run a loss review on a deal I just lost

An honest look at why the deal was lost, what signals you missed, and what to change on the next one.

- Topic: Sales
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Analyze, Plan, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/run-a-loss-review-on-a-deal-i-just-lost

## Prompt

```text
Help me run an honest loss review on a deal I just lost.

**Deal summary:** [BUYER, USE CASE, SIZE, LENGTH OF CYCLE]
**Stated reason for the loss:** [WHAT THE BUYER SAID]
**Who won:** [COMPETITOR / status quo / built in-house / no decision]
**Timeline of key moments:** [FIRST CALL, DEMO, PROPOSAL, KEY EMAILS, WHEN IT TURNED]
**Stakeholders and their stance:** [DETAILS]
**What I believe went wrong:** [MY VIEW]
**Feedback from the buyer, if any:** [PASTE]

Work through:
1. The stated reason vs. the likely real reason. "Price" often means value wasn't established; "timing" often means no compelling event.
2. Early warning signs I may have missed, tied to specific moments in the timeline.
3. Qualification gaps: what we didn't know that we should have.
4. Which parts were in my control and which weren't.
5. Whether this deal should have been disqualified earlier, and when.

Return:
1. A short loss summary (5 sentences) suitable for my CRM and manager.
2. Root causes, ranked.
3. Three specific changes to how I run my next similar deal.
4. A gracious closing email to the buyer that asks for feedback and keeps the relationship.
5. A follow-up date to check in, if it makes sense (e.g. before their contract renewal).
Be direct but fair; don't assign blame where my notes don't support it.
```

## What to fill in

- BUYER, USE CASE, SIZE, LENGTH OF CYCLE
- WHAT THE BUYER SAID
- COMPETITOR / status quo / built in-house / no decision
- FIRST CALL, DEMO, PROPOSAL, KEY EMAILS, WHEN IT TURNED
- DETAILS
- MY VIEW
- PASTE

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.