Loren Dyck is a Ph.D. candidate in organizational behavior at the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, OH. He holds an MBA and an MA/HRM from Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu, HI and a B.Comm. (Honours) from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, MB, Canada from where he originates. Loren’s research interests include the role of distinctive human strengths in intentional personal change, transformative cooperation, and organizational innovativeness. His current research examines resonance and dissonance in helping relationships. Loren is investigating the optimal ratio between positive and negative emotional attractors in effective physician-patient communication. In recent research, he has studied the application of Intentional Change Theory to chronic disease management specifically focusing on diabetes self-management. He has published in peer-reviewed journals as well as presented at national and regional academic conferences.

Prior to entering the Ph.D. program, Loren held senior Human Resource Management and Finance positions with the Canadian Federal Government. In addition to his extensive experience as a manager, an independent consultant, and an executive coach, Loren has also held adjunct faculty positions at three universities. Loren currently teaches leadership courses in the MBA and MEM programs and he is a Weatherhead Affiliate instructor in executive education programs at CWRU. His teaching and consulting activities center on Emotional Intelligence and Appreciative Inquiry.

Regarding Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence (E.I.) refers to the intelligent use of our emotions. It is simply the awareness and management of our emotions and those with whom we interact. Loren was trained in E.I. by Dr. Richard Boyatzis from CWRU who is one of the foremost leading researchers in this area. Loren has designed and conducted many training workshops and executive coaching sessions to help clients understand the composition and importance of E.I. competencies and how these competencies can help to improve individual and organizational performance. Loren is accredited to use the Emotional Competence Inventory which is a well-respected instrument to assess E.I. competencies.

Regarding Appreciative Inquiry

By focusing the energies of the “whole system” on what works, Appreciative Inquiry (A.I.) accelerates positive change in organizations. It utilizes an organization’s strengths or positive core and gets people mobilized toward a preferred future. It is solution-focused rather than problem-oriented and capitalizes on opportunities rather than being side-tracked by deficiencies and trying to fix what is wrong or broken. Loren was trained in Appreciative Inquiry by Dr. David Cooperrider and other originators of the methodology from CWRU. Loren has personally used A.I. with health care, long-term care, and not-for-profit client organizations especially in its application to strategic planning as well as in specific issues facing leaders.

On the personal side, Loren is married and lives in South Euclid, Ohio. When not teaching, researching, or consulting, Loren can be found pumping iron in the gym as he is a competitive natural bodybuilder.