This comparison draws in part from “A Call to Action: Humble Leadership” by Nasiah Cirincione-Ulezi, Ed.D., BCBA, LBA (BehaviorLive), and extends it with peer-reviewed research from our library of 27,900+ ABA research articles. The decision framework, BACB ethics code references, and cross-links below are synthesized by Behaviorist Book Club.
View the original presentation →One of the most consequential decisions a behavior analyst makes is not just what intervention to use, but how to approach the clinical question in the first place. For a call to action: humble leadership, the difference between an evidence-based, individualized approach and a traditional, protocol-driven one can significantly impact outcomes.
This guide lays out the key factors side by side to support your clinical decision-making.
| Factor | Evidence-Based Approach | Traditional Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Response to performance problems | Humble leadership: functional analysis of antecedents, behaviors, and consequences before drawing conclusions | Authority-based supervision: evaluative judgment of individual effort or attitude as primary explanation |
| Information flow | Humble leadership: active solicitation of upward feedback; staff concerns treated as data | Authority-based supervision: primarily downward communication; feedback flows from supervisor to staff |
| Cultural responsiveness | Humble leadership: explicit examination of how leader perspective and organizational culture may reflect inequities | Authority-based supervision: organizational norms treated as neutral; cultural concerns as individual preferences |
| Staff retention | Humble leadership: supervisory contact associated with support and reinforcement, reducing escape motivation | Authority-based supervision: supervisory contact more likely aversive; risk of elevated turnover as escape behavior |
| Decision-making process | Humble leadership: consultation with affected staff and stakeholders; transparent reasoning shared | Authority-based supervision: decisions made at top of hierarchy and communicated downward |
| Supervisee development | Humble leadership: collaborative goal-setting; supervisee strengths explicitly identified and built upon | Authority-based supervision: deficit-focused evaluation; development framed primarily as correction of gaps |
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ on-demand CEUs including ethics, supervision, and clinical topics like this one. Plus a new live CEU every Wednesday.
Use this framework when approaching a call to action: humble leadership in your practice:
Does the data support a need for intervention? Is there a meaningful impact on the individual's quality of life, safety, or access to reinforcement?
YES → Proceed to assessment NO → Document reasoning, monitor
A functional assessment should guide intervention selection. Avoid defaulting to standard protocols without individual analysis. Consider environmental variables, setting events, and private events.
YES → Select evidence-based approach matched to function NO → Complete assessment first
Goals should be co-developed. Assent and informed consent are ethical requirements. The individual's preferences and values matter in selecting both goals and methods.
YES → Proceed with collaborative plan NO → Engage in shared decision-making
This course covers the clinical and ethical dimensions in detail with structured learning objectives and CEU credit.
A Call to Action: Humble Leadership — Nasiah Cirincione-Ulezi · 1 BACB Supervision CEUs · $19.99
Take This Course →We extended this decision guide with research from our library — dig into the peer-reviewed studies behind each approach, in plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
280 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
179 research articles with practitioner takeaways
1 BACB Supervision CEUs · $19.99 · BehaviorLive
Research-backed educational guide
Research-backed answers for behavior analysts
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.