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Books & Resources

Diana wrote Hard to Handle after witnessing how leadership challenges can quietly erode confidence, mental well-being, and the desire to stay—even among talented, committed professionals.

She saw too many capable leaders walk away due to toxic dynamics, and made it her mission to help create workplaces where people can thrive without sacrificing themselves.

Through her work, she helps leaders recognize that difficult behavior is not a fixed trait—it can be transformed through self-awareness and intentional leadership.

The result is stronger cultures, renewed trust, and high-performing teams where people choose to stay, grow, and do their best work.

Hard toHandle

Why High-Performing Leaders Struggle with People and What to Do About It

In Hard to Handle, Diana explores why high-performing leaders can unintentionally create tension and erode trust—especially under pressure.

She uncovers the blind spots behind these behaviors and offers practical insight to address them. The goal isn’t to lower standards, but to help leaders drive results without pushing their teams away.

“This book helped me finally understand why things felt off on my team—and gave me a clear path to fix it without losing momentum.”

"Hard to Handle: A High Performer Paradox is an honest and insightful look into workplace culture and emotional intelligence. Diana Lowe explores how high-performing environments can sometimes lose empathy, and what happens when leadership becomes disconnected. Through relatable stories, the book encourages readers to reflect on their own habits, blind spots, and leadership style. It offers a hopeful message that even difficult behaviors can change with greater self-awareness and empathy. This is a valuable read for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone who wants to build healthier, more effective workplaces."

"Diana with Michael have created a timeless story on how important empowering leadership really is. Crafted as an allegory with richly developed characters that we all can relate to, once I started reading, I literally couldn't put the book down. All the key ingredients of the "good" the "bad" and the "ugly" of leadership behaviors are on display, with the inspiration of showing that a commitment to deep self-awareness and continuous improvement creates positive results that change lives for the better. This book is a must read for all leaders wanting to make a difference."

"I enjoyed reading, Hard to Handle. This book is well written, informative and engaging. Within the first several pages, I found myself empathizing with Claudine and by the end, I was celebrating Chuck. With this book, Diana Lowe has shown that leaders come to their roles with emotional baggage. Just like the rest of us. It doesn’t mean they are terrible people. It does mean that with help from an expert, some self-reflection, and a willingness to improve their communication style, even the worst boss can become a better leader."

"Diana’s book is inspiring and sheds light on the people challenges shaping today’s workplace. The final chapters were especially moving, showing how one leader’s growth can positively impact others. It highlights the powerful impact of a culture that helps employees become their best selves. The book also reminds us that many leaders still have room to grow, despite ongoing issues like burnout and turnover. Overall, it offers a hopeful vision of workplaces built on trust, growth, and meaningful connection."

"This book is highly relatable! Either I recognise various team members from my various jobs over the years, or myself across the narrative. Not only does it strike a chord, it offers valuable insight into ways of changing challenging behavior before teams start to suffer - perfect for anyone who wants to find new approaches to head off conflict, or step up and see the change in themselves. Highly recommended!"

HARD TO HANDLE ACTION WORKBOOK

Hard to Handle: A High Performer Paradox by Diana Lowe is a practical guide for high-performing professionals who feel stuck despite their capabilities. Instead of focusing on surface-level skills, it uncovers the hidden patterns, stress responses, and behaviors that impact how leaders are perceived—and why advancement can stall.

Through real-world insights and reflection, the workbook helps readers build self-awareness, shift from reactive to intentional leadership, and strengthen their presence and relationships at work.

Growth doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from understanding what’s really driving your behavior and learning how to shift it. Hard to Handle serves as a practical tool to help you recognize those patterns and actively shift them.

Most leadership resources tell you what to do. This one shows you what’s really happening—and how to shift it.

Here’s a helpful list of my most popular resources…

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