People who do well as a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) or an RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) are people who truly enjoy seeing children learn, grow, and make progress. These people did not go into the field to become rich, and it is impossible to do well in the long run if this is just a job you are doing for money alone. Of course, we all need to make money, but there must be other reinforcers to sustain high levels of performance over time.
That sounds good, but there is a downside to this characteristic of effective professionals. When things are going great, the job is fun–we can hardly wait to get to work to see what’s next. On the other hand, no matter how good you are, there will be times when things don’t go well.
I’ve argued before that this is a time when professionals are at a high risk for burnout, and ideally, you can call a plumber to help fix the problem. But, unfortunately, that is not always the case. Sometimes, you have to show up for work without assistance, and many of the most potent reinforcers you expect from work are likely not going to be present. That can lead to depression and stress. Even worse, people are often angry in this situation, and emotions can be high, leading to seemingly endless conflicts. I know what this is like.
I survived all those long lonely days When it seemed I did not have a friend.
The one thing that I think has helped me personally is the attitude of “Humble Arrogance.”
Usually, when I work with a child, I am not the first professional to have seen the child. In all likelihood the parents or school team have seen quite a few professionals before they have reached someone like me. So, I try to remind myself there is ample reason to be humble. In all likelihood, the problem will not be easy to solve. Many smart people have already tried to help this child and not succeeded. This is likely to be a significant challenge. Too often, we think that all the other people that worked with the child before just didn’t have the proper training or experience, and this will be an easy fix. Often, that isn’t the case. It is easy to become overconfident when you have had a lot of success (as most BCBAs do). I try not to expect that everything will go smoothly. If I expect bumps in the road, then I am prepared for the times when things go wrong.
On the other hand, being in this situation requires some arrogance too. Despite the fact that all these other smart people have attempted to help this child and were not succeeded, I’ll be able to do it. Try to think like a scientist with humble arrogance. If something doesn’t work, our response is not frustration or depression, but to think “that’s interesting.” Why didn’t it work? Figure that out, and be on a Poogi. Be humble that the first thing you try may not be successful, but arrogant enough that despite the fact that other smart people haven’t been able to do it, you will be successful.