This three-part mini-series - Six Voices - revisits some of the most powerful moments from previous seasons of Highly Relational.

In each episode, six terrific guests offer their own unique take on one shared truth: that relationships aren’t just important to teamwork and leadership - they are the work.

About this episode

In this second instalment of Six Voices, Robert Digings brings together six remarkable guests from Season 2 - each offering a distinct lens on why relationships sit at the heart of every great team.

From family systems to collaboration, reflection to courage, vulnerability to learning - elements that connect people, purpose, and performance.

The six voices

• 🌱 Dr Julia Carden - Coach, consultant and author, on how the stories and dynamics of our first teams - our families - echo through the way we relate and collaborate at work
• 🤝 Jill Clancy - Leadership mentor and business adviser, on humility, ego, and the collaborative behaviours that turn difference into shared success
• 🧩 Dr Gwen Stirling Wilkie - Author, consultant and systems thinker, on trust, alignment, and the relational groundwork that underpins high-performance teams
• 📖 David Kesby - Organisational coach and author of Extra-Dependent Teams, on storytelling, reflection and the “thrills and spills” that build collective learning
• 🔥 Steve Hearsum - Consultant, coach and provocateur, on reflexivity and the “useful discomfort” that fuels growth, resilience and real collaboration
• 💠 Simon Cavicchia - Executive coach, Gestalt practitioner and Ashridge faculty member, on vulnerability, shame, and rediscovering our shared humanity in leadership

Key themes

• Relationship is the invisible thread that turns groups into teams
• Storytelling, humility, and reflection transform performance more than process ever can
• Vulnerability and discomfort aren’t weaknesses - they’re the birthplace of learning and trust
• True collaboration begins when leaders replace control with connection
• High-performing teams are Highly Relational - alive, courageous, and real

Looking ahead

Six Voices continues next week with Part 3, featuring guests from Season 3 - six further perspectives that expand this evolving conversation about how human connection powers team success.

Robert Digings:

www.linkedin.com/in/robertdigings

Team Development Consultant and Executive Coach

Robert has been working with teams and their challenges for over 20 years. 

He has discovered that the biggest improvements come when a team has the courage to do the challenging work of developing deep personal connections and a real sense of belonging.

In this business podcast Robert explores the insights, experience and advice from other experts in the field of human collaboration, be they leaders, authors, coaches or consultants.

Production credits:

Studio Engineer at Premiere Podcast Studios - Freddie Scragg

Post Production - Shaun Lawson

Series Producer - Julie Allen

© 2025 Highly Relational Limited

Find Highly Relational on all your favourite podcast apps or YouTube

If you are enjoying the listen, hit subscribe and leave us a review!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.