READ ON PHILHSC.COM | READ TIME: 4 MINUTES | 24 SEPTEMBER, 2025

Hi Reader! A quick reminder that applications for the October cohort of The Partnership Lab close this week and I'd love to see you there. Apply here!​

And without further ado, welcome to Partnership Wednesday #113 featuring ideas you can use to create partnerships faster, with less guesswork, and confidently close 6-figure deals.

If you know someone who could use this edition? Share it with them here, and if you have a burning partnership, GTM or strategic alliances question, just hit reply. I read every one.

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A LESSON TO BUILD ON

In 2007, Drew Houston demoed his scrappy file-sharing idea called Dropbox to MIT students. His “partnership” wasn’t with a company, but with a community: classmates and dorm groups who became the first power users.

What started as a handful of early adopters turned into a movement. Word-of-mouth spread from dorm rooms to campuses across the U.S., and soon beyond. That organic growth created the cloud storage category and turned Dropbox into a global brand.

Leadership lesson: A partner doesn’t have to be a listed company. Sometimes your most valuable allies are tribes or subcultures who believe in your product so much they evangelise it, for free.

Who are the “tribes” in your world waiting to promote your work?

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AN ANSWER TO HELP YOU MOVE FASTER

I think I know why partnerships fail, but what does “great” look like? I was asked this question from the crowd this week. Here’s my answer:

In the immortal words of my friend Jo Burston, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see.’

And it’s true, most can tell when a partnership is failing.
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Few know what great looks like.
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Missed deadlines.
Awkward calls.
Radio silence.
Finger-pointing.
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Easy to spot.
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But what about when things are great?
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That’s where most leaders stumble.
Because “great” is harder to define.
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If you can’t describe what great looks like, you can’t measure it.
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If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.
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And if you can’t manage it, you’ll never scale it.
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After 20 years of building and fixing partnerships across industries, I’ve learned something important:
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Great partnerships are built on qualities that are observable, testable, and time-bound.
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Here’s what you should see and feel:
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​At 6 months:​
→ Teams at both companies can explain 'why'
→ A visible first win in the market
→ Early data proves offer adoption
→ Allies solve issues before they escalate
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​At 2 years:​
→ At least two proven benefits per partner
→ A repeatable operating rhythm
→ Resilience through at least one leadership shift
→ Adoption so strong it’s a core proof of value
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And here’s the thing: When these qualities are present, even an exit is handled with dignity.
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Because the partnership was built on resilience, not desperation.
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Most leaders don’t know this and that’s why most partnerships stall.
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I built a 1-page Partnership Blueprint that captures all 9 qualities.
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It’s simple, practical, and designed to be used in the room with your team.
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Because few know what great looks like.
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Now you do.

Get it here: Partnership Blueprint by Phil Hayes-St Clair.pdf​

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THIS WEEK'S MOMENT (Insight for your commute)

Could you easily describe what a great partnership looks like?

In this 7 minute episode, you’ll learn:

1. What high-performing partnerships should look and feel like at 6 months and 2 years
2. The 9 observable, testable, and time-bound qualities of great partnerships
3. Why resilience, not reliance, is the true sign of partnership strength
4. How to avoid the “logo swap trap” and focus on value that compounds

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/24-september-2025​

See you next Wednesday,

Phil Hayes-St Clair, Executive Coach

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

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