Be very careful here, this is a huge red flag. Any manager who insists you keep dead deals alive just to inflate the pipeline isn’t looking out for your long-term success. They're covering their own ass by padding their team's pipeline numbers. If upper management or sales ops decides to dig into the pipeline (and sooner or later, they always do), it's your credibility on the line, not your manager’s. A good manager won't force fake pipeline numbers. Instead, they'd recognize a thin pipeline as a genuine issue and actively help you generate real, qualified opportunities—not artificially inflate it. Here’s exactly what you should do to protect yourself: 1- Document everything clearly in your CRM. Add detailed notes explaining exactly why an opportunity has stalled or died. Make it obvious that you’ve done your job properly and transparently. 2- Push back respectfully but firmly. Tell your manager directly, “I understand wanting pipeline visibility, but I’m uncomfortable risking my credibility if leadership audits the pipeline. Can we focus on actually generating more real opportunities instead?” 3- Ask your manager for help if your pipeline truly is weak. A strong manager steps up, supports you proactively, and helps fill gaps with legitimate deals. If your manager is simply telling you to fake numbers instead of helping you prospect, qualify, and sell effectively, they aren’t managing, they’re gaming the system at your expense. Bottom line: Cover your ass. Keeping dead opportunities alive can make you look bad, erode your reputation, and even jeopardize your job. Focus on building a solid, legitimate pipeline, and if your manager isn't actively helping you do that, start building your own internal allies and advocates immediately.