Highly Relational

What if the key to greater creativity, confidence, and connection at work lies not in knowing more - but in not knowing? And what if rediscovering your playful, spontaneous, fully human self could transform the way you lead and collaborate?Highly RelationalSeason 4 - Episode 6Ha! Ha! Said the Clown - Joyful Freedomwith Angie WakemanIn this episode, host Robert Digings speaks with Angie Wakeman - clown facilitator, writer, former nurse, and author-in-progress of The Clown’s Philosophy of Freedom. Angie began her career in healthcare before an unexpected encounter in an acting class revealed something life-changing: her inner clown. Since then, she has spent more than two decades helping people shed their shoulds, loosen their masks, and rediscover the joy, vulnerability, and creativity that make us human.Together, Robert and Angie explore:🎭 Why everyone has an inner clown - and why most of us are terrified to let it out🔓 How permission, freedom, and not knowing unleash genuine creativity😅 Why “looking foolish” is one of our deepest fears - and why embracing it is liberating👀 The clown’s superpower: noticing, receiving, and responding to the world in real time❤️ How authenticity, vulnerability, and emotional truth create connection and laughter👥 What happens when clowns work in pairs or groups - and why relationship sits beneath all the play🌀 Why paradox, contradiction, and fluid identity are at the heart of clowning🧭 How leaders and teams can bring more aliveness, curiosity, and presence into their workplacesAngie’s message is generous and compelling: the clown isn’t a performer - it’s the part of you that is free, honest, playful, and fully alive. Letting that part of yourself lead, even for a moment, can transform your relationships, your creativity, and the way you move through the world.Angie Wakeman:www.linkedin.com/in/angie-wakeman-596754212www.clowns-truly.comRobert Digings:www.linkedin.com/in/robertdigingswww.highlyrelational.comTeam Development Consultant and Executive CoachRobert 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 ScraggPost Production - Shaun LawsonSeries Producer - Julie Allen© 2025 Highly Relational LimitedFind Highly Relational on all your favourite podcast apps or YouTubeIf you are enjoying the listen, hit subscribe and leave us a review!

What really creates change - in coaching, in leadership, and in life?Highly RelationalSeason 4 - Episode 5All Right Now - The Paradox of Changewith John Leary-JoyceIn this episode, host Robert Digings is joined by John Leary-Joyce, one of the UK’s foremost Gestalt practitioners and pioneers of Gestalt coaching. Founder and CEO of the Academy of Executive Coaching (AoEC), co-founder of the Gestalt Centre London, and author of The Fertile Void: Gestalt Coaching at Work, John has spent more than 45 years developing and teaching relational, embodied ways of working.Together, Robert and John explore how Gestalt principles - awareness, contact, embodiment, and presence - translate from therapy and personal development into leadership, team coaching, and organisational life.In this conversation, they discuss:🌀 The power and magic of working in the moment - and why presence changes everything🧠 How emotions and anxiety disrupt clear thinking, and how the body offers a direct route back to awareness💬 What Gestalt reveals about contact, connection, and the interruptions that limit our aliveness🌿 The Paradox of Change - why transformation happens when we stop trying to be what we’re not🧘‍♀️ The Fertile Void - trusting the creative potential that emerges when we pause and allow💃 What tango and Gestalt have in common - and what 'flow' looks like in both movement and leadership🧩 How great teams mirror this flow: open, connected, and unafraid to speak or stay silentJohn’s message is timeless: real change begins in the present moment. When we stop striving and simply allow ourselves to be, the relationship - and the learning - takes care of itself.John Leary-Joyce:www.linkedin.com/in/learyjoycewww.aoec.comRobert Digings:www.linkedin.com/in/robertdigingswww.highlyrelational.comTeam Development Consultant and Executive CoachRobert 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 - Hetal PatelPost Production - Shaun LawsonSeries Producer - Julie Allen© 2025 Highly Relational LimitedFind Highly Relational on all your favourite podcast apps or YouTubeIf you are enjoying the listen, hit subscribe and leave us a review!

What can space exploration teach us about leadership, teamwork, and trust?Highly RelationalSeason 4 - Episode 4Walking on the Moon - Leading in Extremiswith Caroline ClarkIn this episode, host Robert Digings speaks with Caroline Clark - leadership and performance coach, former senior leader in construction and tech, and now an analogue astronaut. Drawing on her unique experience training in a simulated lunar habitat, Caroline shares what life in extreme environments can reveal about how teams operate under pressure here on Earth.Together, Robert and Caroline explore:🚀 What it means to be an analogue astronaut and how space psychology informs team performance💫 Why dynamic leadership - the right person leading at the right moment - creates resilience and agility🧭 How to build trust strong enough for leadership to move fluidly around a team😅 Why “if there’s no humour, there’s no trust” - and how laughter signals high levels of belonging💬 The power of wellbeing checks, vulnerability, and caring for each other under pressure🌍 How lessons from the International Space Station can shape leadership and culture back on EarthCaroline’s message is clear: in complex, high-stakes environments - whether outer space or the modern workplace - the strongest leaders are those who can let go of status, share control, and build trust that allows everyone to step up when it matters most.Caroline Clark:www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-clark-psychologistwww.carolineclark.spaceRobert Digings:www.linkedin.com/in/robertdigingswww.highlyrelational.comTeam Development Consultant and Executive CoachRobert 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 - Hetal PatelPost Production - Shaun LawsonSeries Producer - Julie Allen© 2025 Highly Relational LimitedFind Highly Relational on all your favourite podcast apps or YouTubeIf you are enjoying the listen, hit subscribe and leave us a review!

Highly Relational Team: Launch Week - Ask Me Anything - Episode #6/6With Robert Digings and series producer Julie Allen asking the questionsTo close out the launch of the Highly Relational Team, we’re doing something completely new: our first ever Ask Me Anything.After the biggest month we’ve ever had on the podcast -25 Two Minute Teamwork episodes, a three-part mini-series with Anni Townend, and a roundtable hosted by Dr Gwen Stirling Wilkie - today we open the floor to you.In this special episode, series producer Julie Allen steps out from behind the scenes to put your questions to Robert Digings, covering everything from the origins of the model to the realities of team life, conflict, leadership, and relational development.In this episode, Robert explores:• His greatest joy working with leaders and teams• How the Highly Relational Team model began - and why he finally decided to share it• Why the model has 25 elements and how to find an easy way in• Using the model with teams of different sizes - from pairs to global groups• The role of leaders in shaping (and sometimes complicating) team dynamics• How to turn personality differences into real strengths• How to think about conflict in a team - and why it’s co-created• Why presence matters more than anything• Which element he believes is most essential• And why the model is framed with the words: “This is not the truth”Along the way, Robert speaks to the complexity of human relationships, the importance of conscious development, and the delight — and difficulty — of helping teams grow.Did we get to your question?We couldn’t answer all of them in the time we had, but every question shaped the conversation.And yes - we’ll definitely do another AMA next year.Explore the modelVisit highlyrelational.com to see the interactive landing page with:• All 25 Two Minute Teamwork videos• Conversations explaining the Personal Process, Team Process and full model• Free resources to help you bring the approach to lifeWhat’s next?Season 4 continues next week.And throughout December we’ll be joined by three brilliant guests - each with something important to say about teams, leadership and what really drives their success.If you’re enjoying the series, please share it with a colleague or leave a rating or review - it makes a huge difference.For more information about the Highly Relational approach visit highlyrelational.comRobert Digings:www.linkedin.com/in/robertdigingswww.highlyrelational.comTeam Development Consultant and Executive CoachRobert 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.Production credits:Studio Engineer at Podshop Studios - Tom WrightPost Production - Shaun LawsonSeries Producer - Julie Allen© 2025 Highly Relational LimitedFind Highly Relational on all your favourite podcast apps or YouTube

Highly Relational Team: Launch Week - What's Next?! - Episode #5/6With Robert DigingsAs we bring launch week for the Highly Relational Team to a close, Robert takes a moment to look back - and look ahead. After three weeks of opening the doors to the full model, today’s episode gathers up what’s happened, offers gratitude, and sets the stage for what’s coming next.In this episode, Robert reflects on:• The mini-series with Anni Townend exploring the Personal Process, Team Process and complete model• The roundtable with Dr Gwen Stirling Wilkie, Lucy Widdowson and Alastair Kidd• The release of all 25 Two Minute Teamwork episodes - now available on the interactive landing page• What it means to put people before productivity, team before task, and relationships before resultsAnd he shares what’s coming next for the Highly Relational community:Your chance to take part - Ask Me AnythingNext week we’re doing something new: an AMA episode.Robert invites your questions about anything to do with teams, relationships and the Highly Relational Team - from any of the 25 elements to the meaning of Adventure.Send your question to podcast@highlyrelational.comResources now availableAt highlyrelational.com, you’ll find:• Videos introducing every element• Short conversations explaining how the elements fit together• Reflections on the philosophy behind the modelLooking ahead to next yearRobert previews what’s coming in 2026:• A full new website with deeper resources• A beta version of the team assessment• A professional training programme for practitioners who want to bring the Highly Relational approach into their own workSeason 4 continues…There are still three episodes to come this season, featuring:• Caroline Clark - on analog astronaut missions, extreme environments and relational resilience• John Leary-Joyce - on Gestalt, embodiment and showing up in the moment• Angie Wakeman - on the wisdom and freedom of the Clown archetypeRobert closes with thanks - for listening, for being part of this community, and for exploring a different way of thinking about teams.For more information about the Highly Relational approach visit highlyrelational.com🎙️ Coming soon:An Ask Me Anything episode where Robert answers listener questions.Robert Digings:www.linkedin.com/in/robertdigingswww.highlyrelational.comTeam Development Consultant and Executive CoachRobert 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.Production credits:Studio Engineer at Podshop Studios - Tom WrightPost Production - Shaun LawsonSeries Producer - Julie Allen© 2025 Highly Relational LimitedFind Highly Relational on all your favourite podcast apps or YouTube

Welcome to Two Minute Teamwork - and a new way to think about teams.In this short-form series, host Robert Digings introduces the Highly Relational Team - a new approach to building exceptional relationships at work.Across 25 episodes, each just two and a half minutes long, Robert explores the elements that help teams move beyond function to truly come alive together.Over the coming weeks, you’ll hear how the Personal Process and Team Process come together to form a complete relational model - and how to apply it in everyday team life.💡 Episode #25: ADVENTUREAdventure is the culmination of the Highly Relational Team - the moment when everything integratesIt's aliveness in action. The work stretches you, but doesn’t split you. People are learning, growing, daring, and still deeply connectedIt’s when a team steps into the unknown together - guided by purpose, anchored by trust, fuelled by curiosity🎙️ Coming soon:Longer conversations explaining how the 25 elements fit together, a roundtable with practitioners on what really makes teams thrive, and an Ask Me Anything episode where Robert answers listener questions.Robert Digings:www.linkedin.com/in/robertdigingswww.highlyrelational.comTeam Development Consultant and Executive CoachRobert 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 short-form business podcast Robert explores the 25 elements that make up the Highly Relational Team and how you can apply them wherever you work.Production credits:Studio Facilities - Podshop StudiosPost Production - Shaun LawsonSeries Producer - Julie Allen© 2025 Highly Relational LimitedFind Highly Relational on all your favourite podcast apps or YouTube

Highly Relational Team: Launch Week Roundtable - Teams and How They Come to Life - Episode #4/6Hosted by Dr Gwen Stirling Wilkie with guests Lucy Widdowson, Alastair Kidd & Robert DigingsAs part of launch week for the Highly Relational Team, this special roundtable brings together four experienced practitioners to explore a central question: What really brings teams to life?Hosted by Dr Gwen Stirling Wilkie, and joined by Lucy Widdowson, Alastair Kidd, and Robert Digings, this lively, insightful conversation examines how teams thrive in an unpredictable world - and why the relational fabric between people matters as much as the work itself.In this episode, our guests explore:• Why teams need both individual development and collective development• How teams can become their own mirror - building the courage to look at themselves• Why 'soft skills' are now the hardest and most essential skills in team life• What collaboration really means - and why most teams confuse it with coordination• The limits of hub-and-spoke leadership, and the power of collective responsibility• How future team life may include AI members - and what won’t change at all: our humanityAs the discussion closes, each guest shares their advice for teams wanting to start, reset or reinvigorate their team development journey.For more information about the Highly Relational Team visit highlyrelational.com🎙️ Coming soon:A look ahead to the rest of Season 4 and our plans for 2026, and an Ask Me Anything episode where Robert answers listener questions.Guest Host - Dr Gwen Stirling Wilkie:www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gwen-stirling-wilkie-🌐-edgewalker-6171356www.seedsoftransformation.co.uk Organisational Consultant, Edgewalker and Author of Omni-Working: Work effectively in all ways, from all placesLucy Widdowson:www.linkedin.com/in/lucywiddowsonwww.performance-edge.co.ukAccredited Executive and Team Coach and Consultant. Founder of Performance EdgeAlastair Kidd:www.inkedin.com/in/alastairkiddwww.alastairkidd.com Systemic leadership sherpa, coach, and facilitator. Generative leadership and teamingRobert Digings:www.linkedin.com/in/robertdigingswww.highlyrelational.comTeam Development Consultant and Executive Coach. Creator of the Highly Relational TeamProduction credits:Studio Engineer at Podshop Studios - Tom WrightPost Production - Shaun LawsonSeries Producer - Julie Allen© 2025 Highly Relational LimitedFind Highly Relational on all your favourite podcast apps or YouTube

Welcome to Two Minute Teamwork - and a new way to think about teams.In this short-form series, host Robert Digings introduces the Highly Relational Team - a new approach to building exceptional relationships at work.Across 25 episodes, each just two and a half minutes long, Robert explores the elements that help teams move beyond function to truly come alive together.Over the coming weeks, you’ll hear how the Personal Process and Team Process come together to form a complete relational model - and how to apply it in everyday team life.💡 Episode #24: AMBITIONAmbition isn’t just about wanting more - it’s about wanting meaningfully. It’s the energy that turns purpose into pursuitIt's born where contribution and commitment meet, fuelled by courage - drive with integrityIt challenges comfort, sets direction, and inspires effort - seeking success with people, not over them🎙️ Coming soon:Longer conversations explaining how the 25 elements fit together, a roundtable with practitioners on what really makes teams thrive, and an Ask Me Anything episode where Robert answers listener questions.Robert Digings:www.linkedin.com/in/robertdigingswww.highlyrelational.comTeam Development Consultant and Executive CoachRobert 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 short-form business podcast Robert explores the 25 elements that make up the Highly Relational Team and how you can apply them wherever you work.Production credits:Studio Facilities - Podshop StudiosPost Production - Shaun LawsonSeries Producer - Julie Allen© 2025 Highly Relational LimitedFind Highly Relational on all your favourite podcast apps or YouTube

Highly Relational Team: Launch Week Mini-Series - Episode #3/6Hosted by Anni Townend with guest Robert DigingsIn this final episode of our special launch-week mini-series, we bring everything together - the full map of the Highly Relational Team.Guest host Anni Townend speaks with Robert Digings about how the Personal Process and Team Process combine into a complete, relational approach to team development. Together they explore the elements that emerge when the two halves meet: Story, Ambition and Adventure, supported by the enablers Creativity and Courage.In this conversation, Robert shares:• Why teams thrive in environments with aliveness, risk and meaning• How creativity and courage enable teams to stay together through challenge• Why Adventure is the heart of relational team life - the journey a team chooses to take• How corporate life is a continual cycle of joining, belonging and leaving• Why a truly relational team sees one another as humans first, colleagues secondWe also explore the model’s two developmental dimensions:The horizontal progression: Showing Up, Joining In, Staying With, Counting On, Facing OutThe vertical progression: Communicating, Cooperating, Coordinating, Collaborating, CommunityAs the series closes, Robert offers a simple starting point: Have a conversation - a quality, spacious conversation about relationship, belonging, adventure, creativity and courage - all around the work of being human together.🎙️ Coming soon:A roundtable discussion with four experienced practitioners on what really makes teams come to life, a look ahead to next year, and an Ask Me Anything episode where Robert answers listener questions.Guest Host - Anni Townend:www.linkedin.com/in/anni-townend-leadershipwww.annitownend.comwww.collaborationequation.comLeadership Coach, Partner and Executive Mentor to C-Suite, Senior Teams and BoardsCo-founder of the Collaboration EquationPodcast Host - Leaders in Conversation with Anni TownendRobert Digings:www.linkedin.com/in/robertdigingswww.highlyrelational.comTeam Development Consultant and Executive CoachRobert 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 three-part mini-series Robert explains how the 25 elements of the Highly Relational Team fit together to create a powerful team development model.Production credits:Audio Engineer at Brown Bear Studios - Tom DaltonPost Production - Shaun LawsonSeries Producer - Julie Allen© 2025 Highly Relational LimitedFind Highly Relational on all your favourite podcast apps or YouTube