Richard Boyatzis

Richard Eleftherios Boyatzis (born October 1, 1946) is an American organizational theorist and Distinguished University Professor of Organizational Behavior, Psychology, and Cognitive Science at Case Western Reserve University. He is considered an expert in the field of emotional intelligence, behavior change, and competence.

Richard E. Boyatzis is Distinguished University Professor and Professor in the Departments of Organizational Behavior, Psychology, and Cognitive Science at Case Western Reserve University, and HR Horvitz Professor of Family Business, as well as Adjunct Professor in People/Organizations at ESADE.

He earned his BS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT, and a MS and Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Harvard University.

Using his Intentional Change Theory (ICT), he studies sustained, desired change at all levels of human endeavor from individuals, teams, organizations, communities and countries.

Before becoming a professor, he was CEO of the research consulting company McBer and Company (now part of the Hay Group/Korn Ferry) for 11 years and COO of the market research company Yankelovich, Skelly & White for three years. He was ranked #9 Most Influential International Thinker by HR Magazine in 2012 and 2014.

He is the author of more than 200 articles on leadership, competencies, emotional intelligence, competency development, coaching, neuroscience and management education. His Coursera MOOCs, including Inspiring Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence have over 720,000 enrolled from 215 countries. His 7 books include: The Competent Manager; the international best-seller, Primal Leadership with Daniel Goleman and Annie McKee; and Resonant Leadership, with Annie McKee.

He has over 5,500 hours of coaching, has been teaching and training coaches since 1970 and published 22 articles on coaching.

Professor Boyatzis acquired his bachelor's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT before going on to obtain his MS and PhD in social psychology from Harvard University, and a Board Certified Coach. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from ESADE Ramon Llull University in 2017.

Boyatzis' major contributions to the competence human resource theory started with his pioneering study The Competent Manager (1982). He is the author of more than 200 articles and 8 books on leadership, competencies, emotional intelligence, competency development, coaching, neuroscience and management education. His Coursera MOOCs, including Inspiring Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence have over 645,000 enrolled from 215 countries.

His 7 books include: The Competent Manager; the international best-seller, Primal Leadership with Daniel Goleman and Annie McKee; and Resonant Leadership, with Annie McKee. He has been teaching and training coaches since 1970 and published 22 articles on coaching. Boyatzis was ranked #9 Most Influential International Thinker by HR Magazine in 2012 and 2014.

Boyatzis has published 150 books and articles in the areas of emotional intelligence, behavior change, competencies and leadership:

• Competent manager: a model for effective performance (1982)
• Innovation in professional education - steps on a journey from teaching to learning: the story of change and invention at the Weatherhead School of Management (1995)
• Transforming qualitative information: thematic analysis and code development (1998)
• Resonant Leadership: renewing yourself and connecting with others through mindfulness, hope, and compassion (2005)
• Primal leadership: realizing the power of emotional intelligence - with Daniel Goleman and Annie McKee (2002)
• Becoming a resonant leader: develop your emotional intelligence, renew your relationships, sustain your effectiveness - with Annie McKee and Frances Johnston (2008)