You’re in a Practice Management interview. How do you prove your ability to work independently?

2 Show your self-motivation and initiative

Another way to prove your ability to work independently is to show your self-motivation and initiative. This means that you don't wait for instructions or directions, but you proactively seek opportunities to improve your practice, solve problems, or learn new skills. For example, you can mention how you identified a gap or a need in your practice and proposed a solution or a project to address it. Or how you researched and implemented a new tool or process to enhance your practice's performance or efficiency. Or how you enrolled in a course or a certification to update your knowledge or expand your expertise.

3 Explain how you manage your time and resources

A key aspect of working independently is being able to manage your time and resources effectively and efficiently. This means that you can plan your schedule, prioritize your tasks, and allocate your resources according to your goals and deadlines. It also means that you can balance your workload, avoid distractions, and cope with stress. In your interview, you can explain how you use tools, techniques, or strategies to manage your time and resources. For example, you can describe how you use a calendar, a task manager, or a checklist to organize your work. Or how you use the Pareto principle, the Eisenhower matrix, or the SMART criteria to prioritize your work. Or how you use the Pomodoro technique, the 80/20 rule, or the batching method to optimize your work.

4 Demonstrate your adaptability and flexibility

Working independently also requires being able to adapt and flex to changing situations, demands, or expectations. As a practice manager, you may face unexpected challenges, emergencies, or conflicts that require you to adjust your plans, actions, or goals. In your interview, you can demonstrate your adaptability and flexibility by showing how you respond to change with a positive attitude, a creative mindset, and a problem-solving approach. For example, you can share how you handled a change in regulations, policies, or procedures that affected your practice. Or how you dealt with a crisis, a complaint, or a mistake that occurred in your practice. Or how you embraced a new opportunity, a feedback, or a suggestion that improved your practice.

5 Highlight your communication and collaboration skills

Working independently doesn't mean working in isolation. As a practice manager, you still need to communicate and collaborate with your team, your colleagues, your supervisors, your clients, and other stakeholders. In your interview, you can highlight your communication and collaboration skills by showing how you keep others informed, involved, and engaged in your work. For example, you can explain how you use different channels, formats, or styles to communicate your goals, plans, actions, and results. Or how you solicit and provide feedback, input, or support to others. Or how you build and maintain relationships, trust, and rapport with others.

Working independently is a valuable skill for a practice manager, as it shows your ability to take ownership, responsibility, and accountability for your work. By following these tips, you can prove your ability to work independently in a practice management interview and impress your potential employer.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?