READ ON PHILHSC.COM | READ TIME: 3 MINUTES | 30 APRIL, 2025

Welcome to Partnership Wednesday #92 featuring a lesson, a thought, an answer, and a prompt to sharpen your partnership skills and help you confidently close 6-figure deals.

By the way, when you're ready, there are three ways I can help you (scroll to the end).

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A LESSON TO BUILD ON

When Burger King partnered with plant-based protein startup, Impossible Foods, they didn’t just launch a new burger, they redefined who their customer could be. The Impossible Whopper sparked a 6% jump in same-store sales by appealing to health-conscious eaters, not just vegans. For Impossible, it meant instant nationwide reach in the US.

Leadership lesson: Sometimes the fastest path to relevance is to borrow credibility from a partner who already has it. Today, you can ask: Who already has the trust, tech, or taste we need, and how fast can we team up to serve a changing market?

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AN ANSWER TO HELP YOU MOVE FASTER

What’s the best way to think about end business partnerships? I was asked this question from the crowd this week. Here’s my answer:
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There are three steps to end partnerships without burning bridges. Here is a playbook for how to exit with dignity, protect your reputation and keep the door open.

It’s important to keep two principles front on mind. First, ending a partnership doesn’t mean ending the relationship. Second, outgrowing a partner isn’t failure, it’s strategy.

The real test lives in how you leave.

Step 1: Be clear. Be kind. Be direct.
​Don’t ghost. Don’t sugarcoat. A clean message builds respect.

Example
​"We're shifting priorities and will be stepping away from this partnership."
Short. Honest. Leaves the door open.

Step 2: Structure the exit

• Set a clear end date
• List final deliverables
• Clarify asset ownership
• Align on internal + external messaging

Example​
​One coaching client booked a final alignment call instead of sending a goodbye email.
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The partner said: "Best off-boarding we've ever seen."

Step 3: Preserve the relationship.
​The partnership ends. But the people? They remember how you made them feel.

Remember, big brands do this too:

• Apple & IBM
• Airbnb & Amsterdam
• Shell & Lego

It’s not personal. It’s strategic.

A great exit achieves 3 results:

• Protects your reputation
• Keeps future doors open
• Sets the tone for your team

...as long as you avoid these 3 pitfalls

• Dragging it out too long
• Blaming the other side
• Avoiding the hard conversations

Ending a partnership isn’t weakness. It’s leadership and strategy in action.

Need help designing partnerships that grow and end well? We cover this as part of the Partnership Operating System in the Partnership Lab.

What would you add? Reply to this email.

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THIS WEEK'S MOMENT (Insight for your commute)

What makes one groundbreaking partnership soar while another stumbles in silence? Discover the key differences between success and setback in two of healthcare’s boldest collaborations, one involving Apple, the other, Google.

In this 8-minute episode, you’ll discover:

• Learn why credibility is your most valuable currency in complex, high-profile collaborations.
• Discover how shared wins build lasting legitimacy, and why they must be visible.
• Identify the quiet killers of great partnerships and how to spot them before they do damage.

Get every episode of the Partnership Playbook on your next commute or workout. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Youtube!

KNOW PEOPLE WHO FEEL STUCK?

Share this issue via text, social media, or email by copying and pasting this link:

​https://philhsc.com/partnership/30-april-2025

See you next Wednesday,

Phil Hayes-St Clair, Business Partnerships Expert & Coach

​Find me on LinkedIn or Book a 1:1 Call​

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