READ ON PHILHSC.COM | READ TIME: 4 MINUTES | 25 JUNE, 2025

A lot has happened in the world this week, and nearly everyone I’ve spoken to is carrying some form of uncertainty.

It’s not always easy to name, but you can feel it, lurking in the background and sometimes shaping how we move through the day.

Through it all, one thought keeps surfacing: We’re better together.

So thank you for being here. This 100th edition is especially dedicated to that idea, that we go further, faster, and with more purpose when we do it together.

In that spirit, keep an eye out for in-person events (dinners) that I will be hosting in the coming months, I’d love to see you there.

PS Know someone who would benefit from this edition? Share it with them here.

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A LESSON TO BUILD ON

Ford and Volkswagen partnered to co-develop pickup trucks using the same core platform, launching the Ford Ranger and VW Amarok in 2022. They aligned deep in the value chain, agreeing that true speed and scale only come from platform-level cooperation, not surface-level co-branding. It showed mature leadership from both teams, willing to suspend ego in favour of shared infrastructure. The genius move wasn’t just about trucks, it was about resetting how legacy automakers survive in a platform-driven world. Over the life of the alliance, they expect to manufacture 8M+ commercial vehicles.

Leadership Lesson: Smart partnerships split the heavy lifting. For SMBs, that means finding partners to share product, logistics, or tech development. When you co-create, you reduce cost, move faster, and scale further than you ever could alone.

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AN ANSWER TO HELP YOU MOVE FASTER

How do I make it easier for partners to trust me? I was asked this question from the crowd this week. Here’s my answer:

Ask these 6 questions at the start of each new partnership (and then again at the 12 week mark) to collapse the time to growth (and trust).
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This 20 minute exercise reduces 80% of the misalignment risk in distribution and supplier partnerships.
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​1. What does success look like for you?​
⤷ Why it works: Sets shared KPIs, builds in storytelling, shows you’re already thinking about what’s next.
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​2. How do you prefer to communicate?​
⤷ Why it works: Models your system, invites theirs. Momentum loves structure.
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​3. How do you want to handle friction?​
⤷ Why it works: Sets psychological safety and avoids passive tension.
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​4. What’s one thing we should never assume?​
⤷ Why it works: Shows you're operationally disciplined and expect the same.
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​5. What’s your ideal first win?​
⤷ Why it works: Specific. Measurable. Revenue-linked. Proves the partnership, fast.
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​6. How will we know it’s time to grow or reset?​
⤷ Why it works: Anchors expectations and protects the relationship even in failure.
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Try it with your partners this week.
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The 20 minutes you spend doing this will save you months of drag and misalignment later.

Did this help? If YES, please leave a testimonial, it’s the best way you can help my work.

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THIS WEEK'S MOMENT (Insight for your commute)

This week’s moment is a replay of a keynote I delivered in support of partnerships and women’s health last week.

In this 7-minute episode:

• Learn why access, not just confidence, is the key to women's success in health, leadership, and opportunity
• Understand the role of allies, sponsors, and inclusive workplaces in creating sustainable change for women at every level
• Discover how investing in gender equity isn't just the right thing, it's a smart, strategic move for innovation, resilience, and trust

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/25-june-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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