How to test if a partnership should end
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KIT (THE EMAIL FIRST OPERATING SYSTEM)
Welcome to Partnership Wednesday #105 featuring ideas you can use to create partnerships faster, with less guesswork, and confidently close 6-figure deals.
Know someone who could use this edition? Share it with them here.
A LESSON TO BUILD ON
In 2005, Pixar was losing patience. Despite co-producing hits like Toy Story and Finding Nemo, Disney owned distribution and future sequel rights. Pixar’s then CEO, Steve Jobs made a direct ask to Bob Iger: full creative autonomy and equity for Pixar’s leadership or no deal. Iger didn’t flinch. The clarity of the ask turned friction into alignment and led to a $7.4B acquisition.
Leadership Lesson: Clear asks reveal real intent. If your future hinges on a partner, articulate your non-negotiables up front. It builds respect and unlocks decisive action.
AN ANSWER TO HELP YOU MOVE FASTER
I’m not looking forward to it but I know I need to bring some partnerships to a close. It’s not the people, it’s more about business circumstances. How should I approach this? I was asked this question from the crowd this week. Here’s my answer:
There are two events in business that are rarely taught and we’re left to work it out.
Those events are letting people go and ending partnerships. If you need help with the former, reach out to my friend Rhonda.
For ending partnerships, there is a test you can apply to each partnership, and you can download it below.
And keep this in mind, how you end a partnership says more about you than how you began it.
Do it with dignity.
You’ll protect your reputation, preserve relationships, and signal you're a leader worth partnering with again.
THIS WEEK’S MOMENT
Ever had a deal stall at the finish line and wondered what just happened?
In this 9-minute episode:
Discover how to gain a game-changing perspective with the “Negotiator’s Lens” and see past surface-level friction.
Learn to apply the IDEAL+ framework to realign intent, build multi-stakeholder support, and land the all-important first win.
Gain mental models and rehearsal strategies that help you deliver clarity under pressure when it matters most.
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?
Want to share this issue of Partnership via text, social media or email? Just copy and paste this link:
https://philhsc.com/partnership/30-july-2025
Until next Wednesday,
Phil Hayes-St Clair - Executive Coach
When you're ready, there are three ways I can help you:
1. The Partnership Lab (Applications for the August cohort close 31 July): The Partnership Lab is an AI-fuelled system for sales and marketing leaders who need to close 6-figure partnerships—fast.
2. The Partnership Decision Sprint: 45-minute sessions built for leaders facing high-stakes partnership decisions. Invite up to three people from your team and walk away with clear, actionable next steps.
3. Leadership Events: From Cochlear and Lifeblood to military leaders, I have shared inspiring stories and practical frameworks and insights that shift how leaders leverage partnerships for growth. Book me to speak at your next conference, offsite, or leadership event.
Looking for something different? Send me an email.
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