Do you often wonder why a certain individual continues to make a mistake, no matter how many times you try to correct them?
Perhaps it is your student who frequently shouts in class or your own child who becomes very stubborn about completing homework. It is rather stressful and tiresome, and getting them on the right track seems hard. But behavior is not random.
There is always a reason behind it; once you get that ‘why,’ you are halfway to solving it. You don’t need to be a behavior expert to set out a suitable plan; you only require specific steps, some time, and the correct approach to them.
So, if you are ready to take a more holistic approach, let’s go for real change. Just stick with this guide, for it will guide you step by step on how to create a behavior plan that will be effective.
1. Identify the Behavior
The very first step in creating an effective behavior plan is to clearly identify the behavior to change. And here is the evident truth: be specific. It is not sufficient to describe their behavior as “He is difficult” or “She is defiant,” as those labels offer little insight and leave too much to interpret.
On the contrary, it is advisable to describe the specific behavior with certainty. For example, are the children shouting when they are angry? Leaving their seat during class? Interrupting others during group work?
These specific descriptions help us understand what is truly occurring and create a meaningful plan to solve it more easily. Moreover, specific language ensures that all involved parties—teachers, parents, or caregivers—understand what each behavior looks like.
2. Figure Out What’s Really Behind It
The next step after identifying such behavior is determining what is causing it. A person may engage in a behavior to escape something, attract attention, find solace, or acquire access to something they desire.
Another possibility could be that the person is not willing to do a task that they dislike or may be trying to escape from a situation that they do not fancy being in. Perhaps they want attention, or perhaps they are seeking an object forbidden to them.
In some cases, it is just because the action feels gratifying to them at that age. To find out the cause of the behavior, the best strategy is to look at what happens immediately before and after that behavior.
That is why using a tool like the ABC model can be efficient.
- A –Antecedent: what happened before?
- B – Behavior: The action
- C -Consequence—immediately following it
As you implement this approach, the patterns emerge over time, providing insight into what might be reinforcing or triggering the behavior.
3. Set a Clear, Achievable Goal
Having a clear understanding of the behavior and why it occurs, it is possible to establish a goal. And not just any goal – set SMART goals.
For example, instead of focusing on vague hopes like “I wish he would not misbehave,” use statements such as “I expect him to sit still for fifteen minutes during workshops four times a week in the coming week.” This kind of goal helps define what success looks like, and the progress is much easier to track.
In addition, it provides a common direction and an intention towards which both adult and child move together. Over time, these small wins build confidence and create positive momentum toward lasting change.
4. Employ Right Strategies
The application of the right strategies at each stage of the behavior cycle is where real change happens. Think in three parts: what you do before the behavior, what to teach instead, and how to respond afterward.
- Before – Set the environment for success. Remove triggers, use visual prompts, and maintain predictability in routines. A simple verbal prompt beforehand can be hugely beneficial.
- Teach Instead – Instead of giving the command to "stop," model appropriate behaviors. If students shout instead of raising their hands, instruct them to ask for help instead or raise their hands.
- After – What you do after will influence change; stay cool, respond consistently, and focus on the desired behavior. Whenever possible, recognize and praise the behavior. This early, constructive reinforcement creates momentum and makes it obvious that the new behavior is worthwhile and effective.
5. Use Meaningful Reinforces
Everyone is motivated by something. It is thus up to you to determine what is effective for that individual. The reward can be as simple as an extra break time, a sticker, positive remarks, or even the chance to go to any desired activity for children.
The correct choice is to use reinforcers that are important to the person and not necessarily what is important to you. And there is a need to note that the initial reinforcement must occur quite frequently.
To establish this kind of new behavior, you can gradually decrease how frequently the reward will be provided. But don’t rush that part.
Conclusion
Creating an effective behavior plan requires insight, patience, and a plan. Identify the interfering behaviors, discover their reasons, set objective goals, apply specific interventions, and bring in relevant motivation to convert these behaviors into chances for development.
Bear in mind that behavior is a form of communication that always makes sense. By addressing the behavior consistently and compassionately, you are not managing the behavior; rather, you are remolding it.
This step-by-step guide will give you the tools necessary to bring about genuine, lasting changes without becoming an expert on the subject.