BCBAs: No Management Experience? No Excuses. Adopt This Habit to Catch Up Fast!
You’ve heard me say it before…“BCBA is a case management role”. If you scroll down and watch the video, you will have witnessed me saying it.
The key word here is management. As such, BCBAs need to act accordingly. The key need is to act as managers and treat each other as managers. And BCBAs need to grow as managers.
But, how do you grow into a manager when virtually all of your training has emphasized that you only be a clinician or an analyst or a behavior scientist?
Read on.
Why Leadership Reading Matters
As a BCBA, you’re in a leadership position, whether you realize it or not. How you manage your RBTs, relate with your caregivers, guard your time, and store your documentation directly impacts the clinical success of your learners. One very easy way to enhance these skills is by reading (or listening to) books focused on leadership and management. These resources not only provide practical advice but also help you cultivate the internal dialogue of a leader.
Now, I know this might not sound traditionally "behavior analytic," but bear with me. We all have that inner voice—informed by our learning history—that guides our decisions. The quality of this dialogue can shape our effectiveness as leaders. By immersing yourself in the wisdom of experienced leaders through reading about what leaders do, you end up refining that inner voice and developing a mindset that attends to, and engages in, behaviors that will make you a successful leader.
Key Reads to Kickstart Your Leadership Journey
To help you get started, I’ve put together a list of three must-read books that have significantly shaped my own leadership journey:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
This classic book was the first leadership resource I ever read, and it completely hooked me. Covey outlines seven key habits that effective leaders embody, such as being proactive and thinking win-win. While these habits don’t appear to be strictly behavior-analytic (I would argue they are…but that’s another post), they’re fundamental to being an effective manager. Which means they are fundamental to being an effective BCBA. In fact, it would be interesting to operationally define these habits from a behavior-analytic perspective. If you’re up for the challenge, let’s start that conversation!
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
We know what pairing is, right? This is a book for professionals looking to pair with other professionals. Early in my career, this book was a game-changer. Being a BCBA isn’t just about managing cases and documents; it’s about managing people and relationships. Carnegie illuminates the art of creating quality relationships, which is essential in our field. As you read, you might uncover some uncomfortable truths about yourself—maybe you’re a people pleaser or perhaps a bit self-centered. But embracing these insights is key to growing as a leader.
The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker
This one’s a bit more academic and might come off as drier, but it’s invaluable, especially if you’re into systems, like I am. Drucker’s approach emphasizes the importance of making the right decisions and developing systems that allow you to focus on what truly matters. If you want to understand why some people rise in leadership positions, it often comes down to a powerful system of selection—their ability to make the right decisions at the right times. This book will help you develop that decision-making acumen.
Keep the Momentum Going
Finally, true leaders are always trying to grow themselves. Growth hurts. Growth means admitting to yourself that you have weaknesses and then going to work on those weaknesses. Courage is oftentimes the simple ability to admit to yourself that you might need to develop in some areas. To be truly brave is to embark on the journey of developing yourself.
Be courageous. Be brave. Don’t just read these books once and move on—keep exploring, keep learning, and keep refining your leadership skills. The better you become at leading, the easier and more rewarding your job as a BCBA will be.
So, what are your favorite leadership books? How have they impacted your practice? Let’s share our thoughts and continue growing together as leaders in the ABA field.
Martin Myers is a BCBA with a passion for helping improve the field of ABA. He is the creator of BxMastery, with over 4,000 goal ideas, sequenced, to inspire your programming. With 10+ years of experience in the field, he’s dedicated to empowering others and fostering positive change through effective leadership and communication. Connect with Martin on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more insights and updates.