How to Get Into OBM: Breaking Down Common Misconceptions for BCBAs

Want to break into OBM as a BCBA? You don’t need more degrees or to solve every business problem. Let’s bust some myths and show you how to start smart with behavior-driven projects and real results.

“How Do I Get Into OBM?” A Question I Hear Constantly from BCBAs 👩🏻‍💻

If you’ve ever thought about using your behavior analytic skills outside of traditional ABA therapy, you’ve probably stumbled across the term Organizational Behavior Management (OBM). Maybe you’ve even wondered:

• “Do I need another degree?”

• “Am I qualified enough to get started?”

• “Do I have to know everything about business?”

Let’s get one thing straight. OBM isn’t some secret club with a velvet rope. And if you’re a BCBA, you already have many of the skills you need - you just haven’t been shown how to use them this way (yet).

🚫 Myth #1: “You need a certification or degree to be credible in OBM.”

Let’s be real. You don’t need another set of letters after your name to start practicing OBM effectively. OBM isn’t governed by a certification board, which means:

• You don’t need to wait until you’ve mastered everything to start applying what you do know.

• There’s no formal “OBM credential” that you have to earn.

• What does build your credibility? Results.

If you’ve ever implemented a system that helped your team hit goals faster, made a training stick better, or improved team morale, guess what? You were practicing OBM.

Start where you are:

• Choose a small-scale project inside your current organization.

• Use your behavior analytic lens to define the problem, identify target behaviors, and measure impact.

• Document it. Then share those results with another department or organization.

It’s exactly how we supervise clients before we become certified - it’s applied practice. OBM is no different. You expand your scope systematically, not all at once.

🚫 Myth #2: “You have to solve every organizational problem to be effective in OBM.”

This is one of the biggest barriers I see in BCBAs trying to transition into OBM work. There’s this unspoken pressure that to be “good” at OBM, you have to become the go-to fixer for everything: turnover, productivity, morale, training, leadership, culture - you name it.

OBM is about applying the science of behavior at the systems level. You don’t have to solve every problem to be impactful - you just need to start with one and go deep.

The key? Become excellent at solving one meaningful problem in a systematic way.

Here are a few examples:

• Improve onboarding efficiency

• Reduce team errors

• Increase supervisor feedback frequency

Now let’s take it a layer deeper. A true OBM approach examines issues at three core levels:

1. Performer Level – What behaviors are individual team members engaging in or missing? What supports or contingencies are in place?

2. Process Level – Are the workflows or systems themselves efficient, clear, and aligned with desired outcomes? Are there prompts or barriers built into the environment? In the OBM Practitioner program, we emphasize that the process is where your pinpoint, or behavior, thrives or dies.

3. Policy (Organizational) Level – What company-wide practices, procedures, or cultural norms are shaping behavior? What policies are reinforcing or punishing the behaviors we want to see?

When you think systemically, your interventions become more powerful and sustainable, because you're not just “fixing" a person, you're addressing the bigger picture.

And just like in clinical work, you can specialize. The OBM field is moving toward specialization, with professionals focusing on niches like performance feedback, change management, or leadership coaching. You don’t need to be a generalist. In fact, your depth in one area will likely make you stand out more than surface-level knowledge in all areas.

🚫 Myth #3: “You need to know everyone or have a unicorn mentor to break into OBM.”

You don’t need to know all the “right people.” What you do need is to get really good at solving meaningful problems and sharing those solutions clearly.

When you can articulate:

• The problem you solve

• The behaviors driving that problem

• The intervention you created

• The results you achieved

…you create demand for your skillset. That’s what drives opportunities, not proximity to unicorns.

Start sharing your small wins on LinkedIn or with professional groups. People love real-world application stories, and you never know who’s watching.

So… How Do You Actually Learn OBM Without Getting Lost in Theory?

You need practical, project-based learning that teaches the 20% of concepts that generate 80% of the impact.

Here’s the framework I use (and teach my students inside OBM Practitioner):

The Practical OBM Framework for BCBAs

1. Identify GOOD Problems
   Not all problems are created equal. Look for ones that:

   • Are behavior-driven

   • Impact key business results

   • Are worth solving

2. Validate That the Problem Impacts Results
   Use data to show how the behavior connects to outcomes like revenue, efficiency, retention, etc.

3. Pinpoint the Behaviors Involved
   This is your bread and butter. Break the big “problem” into observable, measurable behaviors.

4. Diagnose Barriers
   Use tools like the PIC/NIC analysis to uncover what’s maintaining current behavior.

5. Craft an Intervention Across Systems Levels
   Think individual, team, and organizational. OBM interventions that scale often start small but consider multiple layers.

6. Measure KPIs
   Track what matters - not just behavior change, but how it affects broader outcomes.

7. Ensure Continuous Improvement
   Your first version isn’t your final one. Embed feedback loops and evolve your system over time.

8. Grow Your Change Management Toolbox
   Change is one of the hardest parts to manage. Your ability to navigate it will define your success long term.

Want Support Practicing These Skills?

I’ve created OBM Pathways to help BCBAs translate theory into applied practice through mini, bite-sized trainings. And for those who are ready to dive deeper, the final beta round of OBM Practitioner is launching soon.

Prices are increasing after this round - so if you're on the fence, this is your invitation to get in now.

Let’s Debunk the OBM Myths Once and For All

You don’t need:

• More certifications

• To solve every business problem

• To be connected to the “right” people

You do need:

• A solid understanding of behavior-driven problem solving

• The willingness to start small and iterate

• A framework that focuses on high-impact skills

If you’ve been feeling the pull to expand your reach, support leaders, and solve real-world problems using behavior analysis, you’re not alone. There’s a whole world of opportunity out there for BCBAs who are ready to build systems that actually work.

Let’s ditch the doubt and take action.

Ready to Start Practicing OBM Your Way?

Join us inside OBM Pathways or apply for our OBM Practitioner, starting in August!