Leadership Is a Behavior

Jessica Zielske MA, MA, BCBA, CPC
  • 4.5 (11)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Biweekly

Leadership and interpersonal skills for behavior analysts committed to growth and integrity. Leadership Is a Behavior is a podcast for behavior analysts who want the real professional skills missing from graduate training and most workplaces. Hosted by Jessica Zielske, BCBA and CEO of The ABA Network, this show explores communication, boundaries, workplace culture, conflict, trust, identity, and sustainable practice, all grounded in behavioral science.

  1. Jan 10

    “My Team Needs to Regulate Their Emotions”: Why Leaders Can’t Expect What They Don’t Model

    Leaders often say things like “I need my team to regulate their emotions” — especially when tone, professionalism, or reactivity become an issue. But what happens when leaders expect calm, restraint, and emotional control from others… while excusing urgency, short tone, or escalation in themselves? In this episode, we unpack why emotional regulation in teams is not created through rules, reminders, or corrective feedback — but through what leaders model under pressure. We explore: Why telling people to “watch their tone” or “be more professional” isn’t teaching a skill How double standards around emotional regulation quietly erode trust and credibility Why replacement scripts help momentarily but fall apart when stress shows up What leaders often miss internally before their behavior shifts Why regulation is most visible in repair — not composure How leaders lose authority when they talk about regulation without walking it This conversation draws from behavior science, organizational psychology, and leadership research to explain how teams actually learn emotional norms — especially in high-pressure environments. If you supervise, manage, or lead people — particularly in helping professions — this episode will likely feel uncomfortably familiar and clarifying. 🔔 COMING IN SPRING 2026 In 2026, I’ll be bringing back continuing education events and workshops focused on exactly this kind of leadership work — the behavioral skills that shape tone, trust, feedback, power, and culture, but are rarely taught explicitly. There are no public dates yet, but content is actively being built and announcements are coming. To stay in the loop: Follow me on Instagram at The Blonde Behavior Analyst Join the email list through our website for first access to: CE events and workshops Supervision curriculums and workbooks Exam prep resources and flashcards New tools, resources, and books We don’t send newsletters and we don’t spam. Emails go out only when something relevant is happening. 🎧 Listen now and notice what’s being modeled when things get hard.

    21 min

  2. 12/31/2025

    Discomfort Isn't Always a Sign You Made the Wrong Decision

    Have you ever made a decision at work that you knew was the right call, but instead of feeling relief, you felt anxious, unsettled, or stuck replaying it in your head? Many people assume that discomfort after a decision means something went wrong. That if the choice were truly aligned, it would feel calmer, clearer, or more confident. But that assumption quietly drives avoidance, second-guessing, and regret. In this episode of Leadership Is a Behavior, Jessica Zielske breaks down why discomfort often shows up after good decisions, not because you failed, but because the decision actually mattered. Drawing from behavior analysis and Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), including the work of Steven C. Hayes, this episode explores: Why humans misinterpret emotional discomfort as decision error How avoidance gets reinforced at work through short-term relief The difference between discomfort caused by avoidance and discomfort caused by alignment Why confidence is a feeling, but self-trust is behavioral How people undo good decisions and why regret usually follows avoidance, not mistakes This conversation applies to anyone whose decisions affect other people: supervisors, BCBAs, clinicians, managers, and professionals navigating responsibility without full control. If you’ve ever wondered why doing the right thing can still feel heavy, this episode offers a new lens for understanding discomfort, restoring self-trust, and staying connected to your decisions over time.

    24 min

  3. 12/14/2025

    The Science Behind Why I Hit Pause + Where The ABA Network Is Going Next

    This episode marks my return to podcasting in a behavior analytic way after having three babies in two years. On this episode, I’m sharing the real behavioral science behind why I stepped back, and what’s coming next. Through the lens of competing values, reinforcement patterns, identity shifts, and leadership behavior, we’re exploring what happens when two equally important values pull us in opposite directions and how that shapes our actions as behavior analysts.Whether you’ve experienced burnout, decision paralysis, or internal conflict in your role, this episode brings clarity, context, and compassion.Leadership is a behavior, and this new chapter starts now.

    16 min

  4. 02/12/2024

    Programming for Generalization - Let's Refresh.

    In chatting with a Behavior Specialist, and learning about their experience with Discrete Trial Training, we discussed the importance of generalization. In this episode, I review what generalization is, the purpose of it, and what strategies we can use to promote this when teaching. Some of this content is pulled straight from The Curriculum for Behavior Analysts, a supervision curriculum we designed to help ABA professionals in every stage of their journey. Check it out at thecurriculumforbehavioranalysts.com

    14 min

  5. 06/01/2023

    Job Satisfaction in Behavior Analysis: Is it actually within your control?

    What does the research say regarding job satisfaction in the Behavior Analysis field? Is this actually helpful? What is job crafting? What can we consider doing if the variables in our work environment are not within our control to modify? Joined by Lindsey Turner MS, BCBA, LBA who partners with Jessica Zielske MA, MA, BCBA in running Atlanta Behavior Academy's Monthly mentorship groups for CEs!

    37 min
  6. "Defusion, Dreams, Latency and Bathtubs...What do they all have in Common?"

    10/30/2022

    "Defusion, Dreams, Latency and Bathtubs...What do they all have in Common?"

    Join us for some morning coffee as we review what "defusion" is, the ways I have practiced this skill, and strategies to help you teach this to others.  PROMO CODE for an upcoming CEU "KILLER DATA  - Exploring Serial Murder Research through a Behavior Analytic Lense" - Use code KILLERDATA10 at checkout!

    28 min
  7. How to Protect Team Dynamics While Navigating Tough Conversations & Holding Each Other Accountable

    10/18/2022

    How to Protect Team Dynamics While Navigating Tough Conversations & Holding Each Other Accountable

    I was struck by inspiration today based on how our team navigated a tricky situation while holding true to our company values.  #proudofyou

    24 min
  8. That's right. We're BACK! New Brand, Growing Community, and a Podcast Revival

    10/15/2022

    That's right. We're BACK! New Brand, Growing Community, and a Podcast Revival

    Just coming across us for the first time? Or have you been wondering what rabbit hole we fell into to for almost a year?  Either way, we're back, and we want to re-introduce ourselves and catch you up on we've been up to, how we have grown, and what you can expect from us going forward.   (Cue song: "Reunited and it feels so good".)

    14 min
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4.5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Leadership and interpersonal skills for behavior analysts committed to growth and integrity. Leadership Is a Behavior is a podcast for behavior analysts who want the real professional skills missing from graduate training and most workplaces. Hosted by Jessica Zielske, BCBA and CEO of The ABA Network, this show explores communication, boundaries, workplace culture, conflict, trust, identity, and sustainable practice, all grounded in behavioral science.

Information

  • Creator
    Jessica Zielske MA, MA, BCBA, CPC
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jessica Zielske MA, MA, BCBA, CPC
  • Show Website
    Leadership Is a Behavior