the 9 types of difficult people

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Hi, I'm Nick Robinson and I'm the author of The Nine Types of Difficult People. On this page you'll find all the additional resources I've created to accompany my book and to help you deal with difficult people, tough teams, and other challenging situations at work.

There are tips, tools and strategies here to overcome problems and make the most of demanding opportunities, and to make sure that work is somewhere that we can all be at our best - achieving things together that wouldn't otherwise be possible.

Available in all good bookshops now!

To get the most of the extra free resources on this page you'll probably want to have a copy of the book. Here's a selection of places where you can find one:

Get more tools and tips with my free Videos

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Videos to help you dive into the contents of my book, learn more about how to deal with difficult people at work and start putting the tools and tips into practice!

Access your free videos

Free Companion Workbook

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A flexible and step-by-step companion workbook so you can apply the strategies in my book to your situation and quickly start to make a difference when you're dealing with a difficult person at work.

Download your free workbook

Free Flowchart

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The flowchart is a colourful and handy way to get a big picture overview of the whole process for dealing with a difficult person. It's also a good tool if you want to jump in and out at your own pace, just using what you need but without missing anything crucial.

Download your free colour flowchart

Free Quick Quiz to Help Identify Types

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The Quick Quiz is an online and interactive version of the quiz in my book. It'll help you to identify which type of difficult person you might be dealing with. You can run it as many times as you like and check your results using the descriptions that appear.

Using the Quiz, you'll be able to easily put into practice the tips, tools and strategies in my book for dealing with a difficult person and quickly improving working relationships.

Access the free Quick Quiz

Executive Coaching

Coaching programmes for when you want more support or some balanced, practical and insightful help in dealing with a challenging situation at work:

Tough Teams

Tough Teams

This programme is designed for senior leadership teams who are not quite firing on all cylinders. Teams facing demanding opportunities and significant risks and who need to pull together at their best.

Difficult People

A Difficult Person

You’re a leader or Human Resources professional with responsibility for someone who has become too difficult, negative or challenging at work. This is having an impact on outcomes and on other people.

You’re interested in offering them some friendly, fearless and effective development support, that balances the needs of the individual with the needs of the organisation.

Challenging Situations

Challenging Situations

This dynamic programme is designed for leaders and managers who find themselves in challenging situations at work or are looking to make the most of demanding and exciting opportunities.

Get the Book

The Nine Types book

Praise for the Nine types of Difficult People:

  • “A real gem of a book, full of clear, insightful and practical advice on how to deal with difficult people in a caring and effective manner.”
    Bridget Caldwell, BAFTA and double Royal Television Society award-winning Director and Producer 
  • “Compelling reading for anyone leading people. The book offers a practical, easy to understand framework, which will help you diagnose, address and resolve problems.”
    Phil Jones MBE, Managing Director Brother UK, an Investors in People Platinum award-winning employer 
  • "I have agonised about certain individuals and what they are doing to upset a high performing team. A book that should be on hand for any leader.”
    Tony Attard OBE DL, Chairman of Panaz Group, Master of The Furniture Makers' Company (City of London livery company), past High Sheriff of Lancashire