Stop the Stall: How Stopper Statuses in ConnectWise Prevent Project Gridlock
Let’s face it — delays aren’t just annoying; they’re expensive. If your team is constantly asking, “Why can’t we just get this job out the door?” you’re not alone. You’ve got techs on standby, inventory collecting dust, and projects stuck in limbo. But the root cause isn’t a lack of effort — it’s a lack of clarity.
Why Projects Really Stall
When jobs stall, it's rarely because your team isn’t doing their part. The real problem? Most project plans aren’t designed to handle the waiting. You’re not just facing a procurement issue (though they’ll often take the blame). You’re dealing with a hidden project management failure.
Every time you hit a snag like:
A missing signed Statement of Work (SOW)
A delayed Purchase Order from the client
A part that was never ordered
A technician without site access
...you’re not just burning hours. You’re tying up resources and cash flow.
The Hidden Costs of Reactive Project Planning
When every stalled project feels like a fire drill, it leads to bad habits:
Rushing procurement (and overpaying)
Stockpiling unnecessary inventory
Scheduling techs prematurely
This all culminates in idle technicians, bloated inventory, and missed timelines.
The ConnectWise Solution: Stopper Statuses
ConnectWise Manage offers a powerful, yet often underutilized, feature to combat this chaos: Stopper Statuses.
🔴 What Are Stopper Statuses?
Stopper statuses act as your project red lights. They explicitly tell the team: “This job cannot proceed until a specific condition is met.”
Common stopper status examples:
Waiting on SOW Approval
Pending Internal Review
Awaiting Downpayment
Site Access Pending
These statuses bring clarity and accountability. No assumptions, no “we thought it was good to go.”
✅ The Power of Handshake Statuses
Once the blocker is resolved, you flip the switch to a Handshake Status — your green light to move forward.
Examples include:
SOW Approved
Internal Review Complete
Downpayment Received
Client Confirmed Site Access
These statuses pair with your stoppers, creating a clear, binary workflow: “we’re waiting” vs. “we’re moving.”
Why This Matters
By leveraging stopper and handshake statuses in ConnectWise:
Your team avoids miscommunication
Jobs aren’t pushed prematurely into scheduling
Resources are allocated with precision
In short: you build trust, avoid rework, and protect your bottom line.
Ready to Build a Stronger Project Foundation?
If unclear statuses, missing handoffs, or stalled schedules sound familiar, it’s time to rebuild your ConnectWise project workflow. My 8-week Project Management Accelerator is built to help.
We’ll streamline your workflows, train your team, and implement a status system that actually mirrors how your business operates — from kickoff to cash collection.
Stop burning time. Start owning your project flow.
