Change Lead Status

Changing Lead Status

Summary: Update lead status to track progress through your sales pipeline and maintain accurate visibility into deal stages.

Overview

Lead status reflects where a prospect is in your sales process - from initial contact through closing or loss. Updating status regularly keeps your pipeline accurate, helps prioritize follow-ups, and provides visibility into which deals need attention. This guide shows you multiple efficient methods to update lead status as prospects progress.

Prerequisites

Active growlio account with leads
Member-level permissions or higher
Understanding of your sales pipeline stages
Knowledge of lead status definitions

How to Change Lead Status

Step 1: Access Your Leads

Navigate to Business > Leads to view your sales pipeline. You'll see leads organized by current status in Kanban view or listed with status columns in Table view.

Tip: Use Kanban view for visual pipeline management and quick status updates via drag-and-drop.

Step 2: Locate the Target Lead

Find the lead whose status you want to update. Use search or filters if you have many leads. Click on the lead card or row to access details.

Click the three-dot menu icon on the lead card or table row. This displays available actions including status change options.

Step 4: Select Change Status

In the actions menu, find and click "Change Status" or hover over it to see available status options. Your current status is marked with a checkmark.

Tip: Status options in growlio typically include: New, Contacted, Qualified, Proposal, Negotiation, Won, and Lost.

Step 5: Choose New Status

Click the appropriate new status based on where the lead is in your sales process. The update happens immediately without additional confirmation.

Step 6: Verify Status Update

A success notification appears confirming the change. The lead moves to the appropriate column in Kanban view or updates its status indicator in Table view.

Step 7: Use Drag-and-Drop in Kanban

In Kanban view, simply drag lead cards between status columns. Drop the lead in the target status column to update instantly - no menu clicking required.

Tip: Drag-and-drop is the fastest way to update status for multiple leads during pipeline review sessions.

Step 8: Change Status from Lead Detail

Open any lead's detail view by clicking its name. Find the status dropdown at the top of the detail panel and select a new status directly.

Step 9: Add Status Change Notes

After changing status, consider adding a note explaining why the lead moved stages. This creates a clear activity trail for team collaboration.

Tips & Best Practices

Update lead status immediately after sales calls or meetings
Define clear criteria for each status to ensure consistency
Use "Won" status when leads convert to clients
Mark leads as "Lost" with notes explaining why for learning purposes
Review and update stale leads regularly (weekly pipeline reviews)
Use drag-and-drop in Kanban for quick pipeline management
Add notes when moving leads backward (e.g., from Proposal back to Contacted)
Train team members on consistent status update practices
Set reminders to follow up based on status changes
Generate reports by status to identify pipeline bottlenecks

Troubleshooting

Issue: Can't change lead status

Solution: Verify you have Member-level permissions or higher. Viewers cannot modify leads. Refresh your browser if the option isn't appearing. Check if the lead is locked or assigned to another user.

Issue: Lead disappeared after status change

Solution: The lead moved to a different status column or filter view. Click "All Leads" to see all statuses or use search to find the specific lead by name.

Issue: Drag-and-drop not working in Kanban

Solution: Ensure you're clicking and holding on the lead card itself, not on buttons within the card. Refresh the page if drag-and-drop becomes unresponsive. Try using the actions menu method instead.

Issue: Bulk status change failed

Solution: Verify all selected leads are eligible for the new status. Some systems prevent certain status transitions. Try changing leads individually to identify which ones are causing the issue.

Issue: Status change not reflected in reports

Solution: Reports may cache data briefly. Refresh the report or wait a few minutes. Ensure your report date range includes the status change date. Check that report filters include the new status.