Episode #202: Using ABA To Help Others At Scale with Dr. Paul Gavoni

I connected with my guest Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author, Dr. Paul Gavoni, on LinkedIn. His work focuses on creating positive and safe cultures by driving meaningful behavior change. He explains that learner behavior often reflects the actions of adults in their environment, a key idea in Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), an application of the science of ABA.

Dr. Gavoni describes OBM as “zooming out” to look at how adult behavior impacts learners. He shares a story of working with a community school, where implementing OBM strategies for the adults created momentum and encouragement while keeping the effort low and the outcomes valuable.

In our conversation, he also talked about the inspiration behind his 10 books, including Quick Wins and Positional Authority Ain’t Leadership, where he breaks down practical behavior management and leadership strategies that drive real change.

We wrapped up with his thoughts on becoming a keynote speaker and getting involved in conferences. His advice? Anyone can do it—it’s JUST behavior.

#autism #speechtherapy

Today’s Guest:

Dr. Paul “Paulie” Gavoni, an esteemed behavior scientist, educator, and leader, has shaped human performance and organizational leadership over the span of nearly three decades. In roles such as COO, Vice President, School Administrator, and School Turnaround Manager, he’s unified his innovative approach through a dedication to human behavior science, aiming to enhance performance and leadership across various sectors. With deep knowledge of organizational behavior science, Dr. Gavoni tackles real-world problems, candidly addressing the shortcomings in performance improvement and change management. His ability to highlight practical solutions, all firmly grounded in behavioral science, emphasizes his unwavering integrity. He employs this science to foster engaging and highly productive environments, adhering to a philosophy that cultivating excellence in employees naturally leads to an environment that supports the sustainable achievement of desired results. Dr. Gavoni’s reach extends internationally across education, behavior analysis, and human service organizations. Hosting the globally acclaimed Crisis in Education Podcast, Thoughts and Rants of a Behavior Scientist Podcast, and being a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling co-author, his impact resonates widely. His publications provide fresh perspectives and actionable solutions to modern educational and performance challenges, all rooted in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. A sought-after international speaker, Dr. Gavoni’s presentation style blends professionalism with approachability, concentrating on tangible problems and realistic solutions. His authenticity and firsthand experiences facilitate a strong connection with audiences, allowing him to express concerns about educational systems and the adverse effects of certain methodologies while concurrently offering positive, science-based alternatives. Beyond his work in education and human services, Dr. Gavoni is a former Golden Gloves Champion and highly respected striking coach in combat sports. Coach “Paulie Gloves,” as he is known in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) community, has trained world champions and UFC vets using technologies rooted in the behavioral sciences. Coach Paulie has been featured in the books Beast: Blood, Struggle, and Dreams at the Heart of Mixed Martial Arts, A Fighter’s Way, the feature article Ring to Cage: How four former boxers help mold MMA’s finest, FX’s The Toughman, and was recently featured in the Lifetime reality series Leave it to Geege. He is also an author who has written extensively for online magazines such as Bloody Elbow, Scifighting, Last Word on Sports, and Bloody Elbow, where his Fight Science series continues to bring behavioral science to MMA. Dr. Gavoni’s philosophy underscores continual advancement, positive evolution, and functional efficacy, marking him as a symbol of integrity and excellence in his field. His work not only challenges conventional thinking in education but also spans human services and combat sports, solidifying his role as a distinctive and influential figure across diverse disciplines. The multifaceted nature of his career serves as a living testament to the transformative potential of behavioral science, positioning Dr. Gavoni as a lasting voice for constructive change and a guiding force in educational renewal.

What’s Inside:

• What is Organizational Behavior Management?
• Dr. Paul Gavoni, Best Selling Author.
• A story on the impact of OBM in a community school.
• “It’s all about behavior.”

Mentioned In This Episode

• Translating the covenant: The behavior analyst as ambassador and translator – PMC
• Paul “Paulie” Gavoni on Linqapp
• Join us in the ABA SPEECH Connection Membership 
• Rose Griffin (@abaspeechbyrose) on Instagram

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