When transitioning from a tech or BCBA role to a director or business owner, it's possible that you'll find yourself unsure or overwhelmed with the change. If you're anything like me, I wanted to learn as much as possible about being a leader, motivating employees, and managing my time. While there is A LOT of literature out there on these topics, from an ABA perspective I found these titles helpful when first getting started.
by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
Focus: Leadership
This book came highly recommended from someone I respected. Don't let the military background deter you from reading (or listening) to this book. This book completely changed the way I viewed leadership and team building when I first started my company. Many of the concepts are explained in a story format that is easy to relate to and you'll find yourself finding ways to apply them to your own team.
by Dale Carnegie
Focus: Influence and Relationships
This book is OLD. The title is weird. At first, I didn't want to read it because it felt shallow and odd. I had a client that lived 30 minutes from my home, and decided to give it a shot via audio book. Carnegie himself actually narrates it, which is very cool. The concepts in this book teach you how to influence and relate to others in a way that is not forced. It is specifically curtailed to the work environment, which is extremely helpful, and although the examples are antiquated, they somehow still very much apply to today's society (possibly even more so). Some concepts offered in the book: techniques for handling difficult people, ways to influence or win people to your thinking, how to change people without giving offense, and ways to make people like you.
by Stephen R. Covey
Focus: Leadership and Relationships
Another fairly old book, but stuffed with easy to apply concepts to help you be a more effective leader. I personally liked the idea of trying to turn these concepts into habits, from a behavioral perspective, and the book gives excellent examples and methods for doing so. It's an easy read with simple concepts that you can apply to your everyday life (and they apply to more than just work.)
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Others to Take Action
by Simon Sinek
Focus: Leadership and Relationships
Simon Sinek is easily one of my favorite motivational speakers. This book changed a lot of my habits and outlooks, even outside of work. He simplifies the mystery of being a leader or being successful to one single question: why? Sinek implies that the skills for leadership are natural and innate, and that we can easily tap into them by identifying our core "why." He references leaders and innovators such as Steve Jobs and Martin Luther King Jr. The book is easy to relate to and may become your bible for leadership.
by Aubrey Daniels
Focus: Business Strategy
Probably the least famous author and book from the list, but possibly the only one that you'll recognize from the field of ABA. Daniels is a prominent OBM psychologist whose literature is often included in any Behavior Analysts education. This book presents 13 really simple ideas / practices that are wrong or waste time and money. He spends a whole chapter explaining why employee of the month is a terrible concept and I found myself hooked to know which other antiquated concepts were bad for behavior change. It's a quick and easy read, and I highly recommend adding it to your library.
Those are the books that influenced me the most when first beginning my own business. I've since referenced other Simon Sinek material, and have listened to Extreme Ownership and How to Win Friends on audible multiple times when I am feeling stuck with managing my team and business. Here are some other books that you may find helpful:
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