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Richard Boyatzis

Distinguished University Professor
H. Clark Ford Professor
Weatherhead School of Management
Professor
Organizational Behavior
Weatherhead School of Management

Using his well-established Intentional Change Theory (ICT) and complexity theory, Richard Boyatzis, PhD, has continued to research how people and organizations engage in sustainable, desired change. The theory predicts how changes occur in different groups of human organizations, including team, community, country and global change. Ongoing research supporting this theory includes developing new and better measures of an individual’s emotional, social and cognitive intelligence as well as studies that demonstrate the relationship between these abilities and performance, and fMRI studies to establish neuro-endocrine arousal of coaching to the Positive Emotional Attractor and resonant leadership.

Boyatzis is a Distinguished University Professor at CWRU, as well as a professor in the Departments of organizational behavior, psychology, and cognitive science. Boyatzis has won many awards at Case Western Reserve for research, teaching, and service. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the Association for Psychological Sciences.

Boyatzis is the author of more than 200 articles and nine books that include: The Competent Manager: A Model for Effective Performance (in 2 languages); Innovations in Professional Education: Steps on a Journey from Teaching to Learning, with David Kolb and Scott Cowen; Transforming Qualitative Information: Thematic Analysis and Code Development (in 2 languages); the international best-seller, Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence with Daniel Goleman and Annie McKee (in 29 languages); Resonant Leadership: Renewing Yourself and Connecting with Others Through Mindfulness, Hope, and Compassion with Annie McKee (in 18 languages); Becoming a Resonant Leader: Develop Your Emotional Intelligence, Renew Your Relationships, Sustain Your Effectiveness, with Annie McKee and Fran Johnson (in 8 languages); and Helping People Change: Coaching with Compassion for Lifelong Learning and Growth with Melvin Smith and Ellen Van Oosten (in 6 languages).

Boyatzis is a frequent speaker on the international circuit, having delivered speeches and seminars on all seven continents and over 35 countries. He has consulted to many Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and organizations in the Americas, Europe and Asia on various topics including executive and management development, organization structure, culture change, R&D productivity, economic development, selection, promotion, performance appraisal and career planning. His Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), Inspiring Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence, has over 1,350,000 million unique visitors and enrolled through Coursera from over 215 countries. Boyatzis has a PhD and MA in Social Psychology from Harvard University and a BS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT.

Initially Appointed: 1987

Curriculum Vita

Teaching Information

Teaching Interests

  • Leadership
  • Leading Change from a Complexity Perspective
  • Emotional and Social Intelligence
  • Competency Development
  • Coaching

Course evaluation ratings (login required)

Courses Taught

Leading Change: Teams
Leading Change from a Complexity Perspective

Office Hours

By Appointment Only

Research Information

Research Interests

  • Current Research Agenda: How do People individually and in social groups from dyads to teams to organizations to communities to countries change, learn and grow throughout their lives and careers?
  • Neuroscience of coaching

Awards and Honors

Christopher J Peterson Gold Medal Award for contributions to the field of positive psychology
2023
International Positive Psychology Association
Lifetime Achievement Award
2022
Organizational Neuroscience Interest Group at the Academy of Management
Top 2% of scientists in the world by citations
2022
PLOS Biology
Top 50 Global Thinkers in Coaching
2021
Top 50 Thinkers
Lifetime Achievement Award for Contributions to Leadership Coaching
2020
Coaching at Work
Fellow
2020
American Psychological Association.
#1 Coach Academic Influencer
2019
Thinkers 50, Top 50 Coaches Worldwide.
Enduring Impact Research Award
2019
WSOM/CWRU
Fellow
2019
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Vision of Excellence Award for the Science of Coaching
2018
Institute of Coaching
PhD Honoris Causa
2017
ESADE on behalf of Ramon Llull University
Distinctive Contribution to the field of Project Management
2017
International Society for Project Management
Archer Lifetime Achievement Award
2017
Crains Business Cleveland
Fellow
2016
Association of Psychological Science
Most Influential International Thinker
2014
HR Magazine
Distinguished University Professor
2010
Case Western Reserve University
John Diekhoff Award for Graduate Student Teaching
2007
Case Western Reserve University
Executive Education Teaching Award
2003
Weatherhead School of Management
David Bowers Faculty Service Award
2002
Weatherhead Alumni Association
Research Award
1999
Weatherhead School of Management
Theodore M. Alfred Distinguished Service Award
1996
Weatherhead School of Management

External Appointments

  • Association of Psychological Science, 2011 - Present
  • Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 1996 - Present
  • Academy of Management, 1991 - Present
  • American Psychological Association, 1970 - Present
  • Officer, Other Officer, Academy of Management Neuroscience Interest Group, 2020 - 2025
  • Board of Advisors of a Company, ALBA School of Management, Athens, 2017 - Present
  • Committee Chair, MOOC, 2013 - 2016
  • Committee Member, Brain Health Institute Executive Committee, 2011 - 2020

Publications

  • Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. L., Van Oosten, E. B.
    Motivating Executives to Learn and Change is a Board Responsibility  IOD
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Dhar, U. (2023).
    When Normal is Not Normal: A Theory of the Non-Linear and Discontinuous Process of Desired Change and its Managerial Implications  Journal of Applied Behavioral Science
  • White, B. A., Cola, P. A., Boyatzis, R. E., Quinn, J. F. (2022).
    Emotionally Intelligent Leadership in Medicine  Frontiers in Psychology
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Hullinger, A. , Ehasz, S. , Harvey, J. , Tassarotti, S. , Gallotti, A. , Pinafort, F. (2022).
    The Grand Challenge on the Future of Coaching  Journal of Applied Behavioral Science
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Dhar, U. , (2021).
    The Dynamics of the Ideal Self  Journal of Management Development
  • Dhar, U. , Liu, H. , Boyatzis, R. E. (2021).
    Towards Personal Sustainability: Renewal as an Antidote to Stress (vol. 13, issue 17, ) Sustainability
  • Liu, H. , Boyatzis, R. E. (2021).
    Focusing on Resilience and Renewal From Stress: The Role of Emotional and Social Intelligence Competencies  Frontiers in Psychology
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Goleman, D. , Dhar, U. , Osiri, J. K. (2021).
    Thrive and Survive: Assessing Personal Sustainability  Consulting Psychology Journal
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. L., Van Oosten, E. B. (2021).
    In a Post-COVID World Will Training Be Dead?  Raleigh, NC: Training Industry
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2020).
    Social intelligence   (vol. 3, ) NJ: John Wiey & Sons
  • Van Oosten, E. B., Smith, M. L., Boyatzis, R. E. (2020).
    How to Support the People You Lead in Times of Uncertainty   Berkeley, California: Greater Good Magazine
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2020).
    David C. McClelland   Emerald Press
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Rochford, K. C. (2020).
    Relational Climate in the workplace: Dimensions, measurement and Validation   Frontiers in Psychology
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2020).
    Emotional Intelligence and It's Measurement  Oxford: Oxford University Press
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. L., Van Oosten, E. B. (2019).
    Helping People Change: Coaching with Compassion for Lifelong Learning and Growth  Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review Press
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. L., Van Oosten, E. B. (2019).
    Coaching for Change  Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review
  • Jack*, A. , Rochford*, K. C., Friedman, J. P., Passarelli, A. , Boyatzis, R. E. (2019).
    Pitfalls in Organizational Neuroscience: A Critical Review and Suggestions for Future Research Organizational Research Methods
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2018).
    The Behavioral Level of Emotional Intelligence and Its Measurement  (vol. 9, ) Frontiers in Psychology
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2018).
    Coaching through Intentional Change Theory   (pp. 221-230) Springer Publishing
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2018).
    Measuring the Impact of Quality of Relationships Through the Positive Emotional Attractor   (pp. 193-210) Praeger Publishers
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Cavanagh, K. V. (2018).
    Leading change: Developing emotional, social, and cognitive competencies in managers during an MBA (pp. 403-426) Springer Press
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Goleman, D. , Gerli, F. , Bonesso, S. (2018).
    Emotional and Social Intelligence Competencies for Project Management   Boca Raton, FL CRC Taylor Francis
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Jack, A. (2018).
    The neuroscience of coaching  (vol. 70, issue 1, pp. 11-27) Journal of Consulting Psychology
  • Topa, G. , Lunceford, G. , Boyatzis, R. E. (2018).
    Financial Planning for Retirement: A Psychosocial Perspective  Frontiers in Psychology
  • Howard, A. R., Healy, S. , Boyatzis, R. E. (2017).
    Using Leadership Competencies as a Framework for Career Readiness  New Directions for Student Leadership
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2017).
    Commentary on Ackley: Updates on the ESCI as the behavioral level of emotional intelligence (vol. 68, issue 4, pp. 287-293) Consulting Psychology Journal
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Rochford, K. C., Cavanagh, K. V. (2017).
    Emotional Intelligence Competencies in Engineer’s Effectiveness and Engagement  (vol. 22, issue 1, pp. 70-86) Career Development International
  • Rochford, K. C., Boyatzis, R. E., Jack, A. , French, S. (2016).
    Ethical Leadership as a Balance Between Opposing Neural Networks  Journal of Business Ethics
  • Jack, A. , Friedman, J. , Boyatzis, R. E., Taylor, S. N. (2016).
    Why Do You Believe in God? Relationships between Religious Belief, Analytic Thinking, Mentalizing and Moral Concern  PLOS ONE
  • Batista-Foguet, J. , Ferrer-Rosell, B. , Coenders, G. , Boyatzis, R. E. (2015).
    Unveiling the Third Dimension of Experiential Learning Theory (vol. 6, issue 1742, ) Frontiers in Psychology
  • Petersen, R. , Lissemore, F. , Aggarwal, N. , Boyatzis, R. E., Appley, B. , Cassadeus, G. , Jack, A. , Perry, G. , Safar, J. , Saratojvic, M. , Surewich, W. , Wang, Y. , Whitehouse, P. , Lerner, A. (2015).
    Neurodegeneration to Brain Health: an integrated approach  Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
  • Hazy, J. , Boyatzis, R. E. (2015).
    Emotional contagion and proto-organizing in human interaction dynamics (vol. 5, issue 1447, ) Frontiers in Psychology
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Rochford, K. C., Taylor, S. N. (2015).
    The Role of the Positive Emotional Attractor as Vision and Shared Vision: Toward Effective Leadership, Relationships and Engagement  Frontiers in Psychology
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. L., Van Oosten, E. B. (2015).
    Illuminating the Scholarship of Coaching (vol. 51, issue 2, pp. 149-151)  Journal of Applied Behavioral Science
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Fogfuet, J. B., Marin, X. F., Truninger, M. (2015).
    EI competencies as a related but different characteristic than intelligence  Frontiers in Psychology
  • Amdurer, E. , Boyatzis, R. E., Saatcioglu, A. , Smith, M. , Taylor, S. N. (2014).
    Long Term Impact of Emotional, Social and Cognitive Intelligence Competencies and GMAT on Career and Life Satisfaction and Career Success (pp. 1-15) Frontiers in Psychology
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Gaskin, J. E., Wei, H. (2014).
    Emotional and Social Intelligence and Behavior (pp. 243-262) New York: Spring Press
  • Mahon, E. , Taylor, S. N., Boyatzis, R. E. (2014).
    Antecedents of organizational engagement: exploring vision, mood and perceived organizational support with emotional intelligence as a moderator   Frontiers in Psychology
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2014).
    Possible Contributions to Leadership and Management Development from Neuroscience (pp. 300-303) Academy of Management Learning and Education
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Khawaja, M. (2014).
    How Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan Led a Change Process That Started a Movement  (vol. 50, issue 3, pp. 284-306) Journal of Applied Behavioral Science
  • Batista-Foguet, J. M., Revilla, M. , Saris, W. , Boyatzis, R. E., Serlavos, R. (2014).
    Reassessing the effect of survey characteristics on common method bias in emotional and social intelligence competencies assessment (vol. 21, pp. 596-607) Structural Equation Modeling
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Rochford, K. C., Jack, A. (2014).
    Antagonistic neural networks underlying differentiated leadership roles   (vol. 8, pp. 1-15) Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
  • Jack, A. , Boyatzis, R. E., Khawaja, M. , Passarelli, A. , Leckie, R. (2013).
    Visioning in the brain: an fMRI study of inspirational coaching and mentoring   (vol. 8, issue 4, pp. 369-384) Social Neuroscience
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Passarelli, A. M., Wei, H. (2013).
    A study of developing emotional, social and cognitive competencies in 16 cohorts of an MBA program  AOM Best Paper Proceedings
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. L., Beveridge, A. J. (2013).
    Coaching with compassion: Inspiring health, well-being and development in organizations  (vol. 49, issue 2, pp. 153-178) Journal of Applied Behavioral Science
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. L., Van Oosten, E. B., Woolford, L. (2013).
    Developing resonant leaders through emotional intelligence, vision and coaching (vol. 42, pp. 17-24)  Organizational Dynamics
  • Victoroff, K. , Boyatzis, R. E. (2013).
    An examination of the relationship between emotional intelligence and dental student clinical performance (vol. 77, issue 4, pp. 416-426) Journal of Dental Education
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. L., Van Oosten, E. B., Lauris, W. (2013).
    Developing Resonant Leaders through Emotional Intelligence, Vision and Coaching  (vol. 42, pp. 17-24) Organizational Dynamics
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Massa, R. , Good, D. (2012).
    Emotional, Social and Cognitive Intelligence as Predictors of Sales Leadership Performance   (vol. 19, issue 2, pp. 191-201) Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Passarelli, A. , Koenig, K. , Lowe, M. , Matthew, B. , Stoller, J. , Phillips, M (2012).
    Examination of neural substrates activated in experiences with resonant and dissonant leaders (vol. 23, issue 2, pp. 259-272) Leadership Quarterly
  • Emmerling, R. , Boyatzis, R. E. (2012).
    Emotional and social intelligence competencies: Cross cultural implications (vol. 19, issue 1, pp. 4-18)
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2011).
    Managerial and Leadership Competencies A Behavioral Approach to Emotional, Social and Cognitive Intelligence (vol. 15, issue 2, pp. 91-100) New Delhi: Vision: The Journal of Business Perspective
  • Van Oosten, E. B., Boyatzis, R. E. (2011). In L.A. Berger and D.R. Berger (Ed.)
    Coaching for Sustained, Desired Change: Building Relationships and Talent (pp. 217-226) McGraw-Hill
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Brizz, T. , Godwin, L. (2011).
    The Effect of Religious Leaders' Emotional and Social Intelligence on Improving Parish Vibrancy (vol. 18, issue 2, pp. 192-206) Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Fambrough, M. , Leonard, D. , Rhee, K. (2011). In David Clelland and Bopaya Bidanda (Ed.)
    Emotional and social competencies of effective project managers (pp. 273-288) London: PMI Institute
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. L., Van Oosten, E. B. (2010).
    Le coaching compatissant, allié de la santé et du renouveau (vol. 35, issue 3, pp. 41-46) Montreal: Gestion
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Jack, T. , Cesaro, R. , Khawaja, M. , Passarelli, A. (2010).
    Coaching with compassion: An fMRI stiudy of coaching to the positive and negative emotional attractor  Academy of Management Proceedings
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. L., Van Oosten, E. B. (2010).
    Coaching for Change (pp. 68-71) People Matters
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Kelner, S. (2010). In Oliver Schultheiss, Friedrich Alexander and Joachim Brunstein (Ed.)
    Competencies as a behavioral manifestation of implicit motives (pp. 488-509)
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Soler, C. (2009).
    Leadership and emotional intelligence in family business (pp. 8-12) Mente Sana
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2009).
    A Behavioral Approach to Emotional Intelligence (vol. 28, issue 9, pp. 749-770) Journal of Management Development
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Ratti, F. (2009).
    Emotional, social and cognitive intelligence competencies distinguishing effective Italian managers and leaders in a private company and cooperatives (vol. 28, issue 9, pp. 821-838) Journal of Management Development
  • Guillen, L. , Saris, W. , Boyatzis, R. E. (2009).
    The impact of emotional and social competencies on effectiveness of Spanish executives (vol. 28, issue 9, pp. 771-793) Journal of Management Development
  • Smith, M. L., Van Oosten, E. B., Boyatzis, R. E. (2009). In William Pasmore, Richard Woodman, Rami Shani (Ed.)
    Coaching for sustained desired change (vol. 17, pp. 145-174) Research in Organizational Development and Change
  • Batista, J. M., Saris, W. , Boyatzis, R. E., Guillen, L. , Serlavos, R. (2009).
    Effect of response scale on assessment of emotional intelligence competencies (vol. 46, issue 5-6, pp. 875-880) Journal of Personality and Individual Differences
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2008).
    Leadership Development from a Complexity Perspective (vol. 60, issue 4, pp. 298-313) Consulting Psychology Journal
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2008). In Steve Armstrong, Cynthia Fukami (Ed.)
    Developing emotional, social, and cognitive intelligence competencies in managers and leaders (pp. 439-455) LA, CA: Sage
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2008). In Peter Doherty, Mari Kira & Rami Shami (Ed.)
    Creating Sustainable, Desired Change in Teams Through Application of Intentional Change and Complexity Theories (Edition 2 ed., pp. 103-116) London: Creating Sustainable Work Systems: Emerging Perspectives and Practices; Routledge Press
  • Goleman, D. , Boyatzis, R. E. (2008).
    Social intelligence and the biology of leadership (vol. 86, issue 9, pp. 74-81) Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2008). In Neal Ashkanasy and Cary Cooper (Ed.)
    Emotional and Social Intelligence Competencies (pp. 226-244) London: Research Companion to Emotion in Organizations: Edward Elgar
  • Boyatzis, R. E., McKee, A. , Johnson, F. (2008). In Mareio Raich, Simon Dolan (Ed.)
    Es desarrollo de grandes lideres para los proximos anos   (pp. 228-231) Lima: TECSUP
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Saatcioglu, A. (2008).
    A Twenty Year View of Trying to Develop Emotional, Social and Cognitive Intelligence Competencies in Graduate Management Education (vol. 27, issue 3, pp. 92-108) Journal of Management Development
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2008).
    Competencies in the 21st Century (vol. 27, issue 3, pp. 5-12) Journal of Management Development
  • McKee, A. , Boyatzis, R. E., Johnston, F. (2008).
    Becoming a Resonant Leader: Develop Your Emotional Intelligence, Renew Your Relationships, Sustain Your Effectiveness  Boston: Harvard Business School Press
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Goleman, D. (2007).
    Emotional and Social Competency Inventory Boston, MA: The Hay Group
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2006).
    Using tipping points of emotional intelligence and cognitive competencies to predict financial performance of leaders (vol. 18, pp. 124-131) Psicothema
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Bilimoria, D. , Godwin, L. , Hopkins, M. , Lingham, T. (2006). In R. Gross, Y. Neria, R. Marshall, and E. Susser (Ed.)
    Mental Health in the Wake of Terrorist Attacks: Effective leadership in extreme crisis (pp. 197-214) New York: Cambridge University Press
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. , Blaize, N. (2006).
    Developing Sustainable Leaders Through Coaching and Compassion (vol. 5, issue 1, pp. 8-24) Academy of Management Journal on Learning and Education
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (2006).
    Intentional Change Theory from a Complexity Perspective (vol. 25, issue 7, pp. 607-623) Journal of Management Development
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. L., Blaize, N. J. (2006).
    Developing Sustainable Leaders through Coaching and Compassion (pp. 8-24) Academy of Management Learning and Education
  • Boyatzis, R. E., McKee, A. (2005).
    Resonant Leadership: Renewing Yourself and Connecting with Others Through Mindfulness, Hope and Compassion  Boston: Harvard Business School Press
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Sala, F. (2004). In Glenn Geher (Ed.)
    Assessing Emotional Intelligence Competencies  (pp. 147-180) Hauppauge, NY: The Measurement of Emotional Intelligence; novas Science Publishers
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Goleman, D. , McKee, A. (2002).
    Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence  Boston: Harvard Business School Press
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (1998).
    Transforming Qualitative Information: Thematic Analysis and Code Development  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications
  • Boyatzis, R. E., Cowen, S. S., Kolb, D. A. (1995).
    Innovations in Professional Education: Steps on a Journey from Teaching to Learning  San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (1990).
    Philosophical Orientation Questionnaire   
  • Boyatzis, R. E. (1982).
    The Competent Manager: A Model for Effective Performance  New York: John Wiley and Sons

Presentations

  • Van Oosten, E. B. (Coordinator/Organizer), Passarelli, A. (Coordinator/Organizer), Taylor, S. (Presenter & Author), Boyatzis, R. E. (Presenter & Author), Anthanasopoulou, A. (Presenter & Author), Dopson, S. (Presenter & Author), Good, D. (Panelist/Discussant), Jules, C. (Panelist/Discussant)  76th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, "New Frontiers in Coaching Research", Academy of Management, Anaheim, CA. (2016).
  • Shoop, J. (Presenter & Author), Lyytinen, K. J. (Author Only), Boyatzis, R. E. (Author Only)  International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS), "The Critical Competencies of Successful Senior IT Leaders - A Field Study", International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS), Fort Worth, TX. (2015).
  • Van Oosten, E. B., Boyatzis, R. E., Smith, M. L.  Coaching for Leadership and Healthcare, "Leading Improvements in Emotional Intelligence and Resonant Leadership Through Coaching", Institute of Coaching, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. (2011).
  • Smith, M. L. (Presenter & Author), VanOosten, E. (Presenter & Author), Boyatzis, R. E. (Presenter & Author)  Academy of Management Annual Meeting, "Coaching for Sustained Desired Change", Academy of Management, Chicago. (2009).

Education

PhD
Harvard University
1973
Master of Arts
Harvard University
1970
Bachelor of Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1968

Residencies, Internships and Fellowships

Founding Research Fellow
Coaching Research Lab, Weatherhead School of Management