How do I Excel in my Contracting Role?
Independent contracting requires a specific mindset, skill set, and approach to be successful. Successful contractors require expertise, professionalism, and adaptability, according to Right Management International. So, what are their top 10 tip for success and how can you apply these to your clinical practice?
1. Be a Subject Matter Expert
A successful independent contractor you may be recognised as a subject matter expert (SME) in their field. As a clinician, this means staying up to date with the latest research, best practices, and developments in your area of clinical expertise. This is especially important if you work in specialised fields like mental health social work, trauma counselling, family therapy or clinical supervision.
Tip: Join professional associations like the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), Australian Psychological Society (APS), Psychotherapy and Counselling Association (PACFA) or Australian Counselling Association (ACA), attend workshops, and engage in regular professional development. Staying abreast of current trends and research will make you more attractive to potential clients and organisations and keep you motivated and engaged in your work.
2. Hit the Ground Running
Organisations hiring independent contractors often need someone who can immediately start work without extensive onboarding or training. Although hopefully there will be some time to settle in, as a contractor, you may be expected to quickly understand the organisation’s needs, adapt to organisational processes, and start working from day one. Even in an employed position, I remember mentioning my enthusiasm to start counselling at my job interview for a permanent position. They took me at my word and on booked in 1 client appointment on day 1, 2 new client appointments on day 2, and 3 new appointments on day 3.
Tip: Ensure you have a solid understanding of organisational culture and expectations by asking for clear guidelines at the start of any contract. Before taking on a new role, get familiar with the sector and/or type of clients you’ll be working with. And perhaps clarify what they expect from you in your ‘orientation’ week.
3. Be Proactive and Show Initiative
Successful independent contractors are proactive andtake initiative. This could be identifying an unmet need within the organisation, sharing clinical information, or improving processes, a good contractor continuously seeks ways to offer support and be useful. In one organisation I was employed in, we were all impressed by a newly contracted law graduate who jumped up in a meeting to write on the whiteboard, and networked with ease with strangers from a partner company over a work dinner. Needless to say, she succeeded in her (too) junior role and was quickly snapped up by another organisation in a permanent senior position.
Tip: Regularly check in with your point of contact to discuss upcoming needs or areas where you may provide more support, specialist information or education. This proactive approach helps you establish a long-term relationship and may lead to future work opportunities.
4. Leverage your Strengths and Capabilities
Self-awareness is critical in independent contracting. You need to know your strengths and capabilities and use them to your advantage. Equally important is recognising your learning edge and finding ways to develop the skills you need through professional development, clinical supervision, mentoring, workplace coaching or networking.
Tip: You may like to conduct a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) of your skills and also your independent contracting business. You may also try out personality and behavioural assessments such as the Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI), DISC Profile or Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Use these and other tools to identify areas where you could seek additional support or training.
5. Focus on Delivering Value, Not Just Income
While earning a living is clearly essential, the most successful contractors prioritise delivering best practice to their clients and the organisation. This means providing high-quality service, solving problems, and helping organisations meet their goals. Contractors who focus solely on financial gain may miss opportunities for long-term relationships and future referrals.
Tip: Approach every contract with a mindset of partnership and providing a best practice service for clients and the organisation. This will ultimately lead to better client outcomes and greater success in your career.
6. Identify and Create New Opportunities
Successful independent contractors don’t just wait for opportunities but actively seek them out. As a clinician, you might identify additional services that you could offer such as group training, couple therapy or group reflective practice sessions.
Tip: Stay attuned to shifts in the mental health field, such as new funding opportunities, policy changes, or emerging needs in specific populations. By staying informed, you can propose timely and relevant projects to the organisation and potentially extend your contract work into other areas of skill and interest.
7. Be an Excellent Communicator and Networker
Successful independent contractors generally have strong communication skills. This includes the ability to clearly articulate ideas, listen effectively, and adapt communication styles to different audiences. Networking and partnership building is equally important, both inside and outside the organisation. Building and maintaining professional relationships may open up other opportunities in an organisation, and lead to referrals. And it can also be motivating and inspiring to work alongside different professionals.
Tip: Check-in regularly with your point of contact at the organisation. Build a network of other clinicians for collaboration and support in the organisation and, join professional associations including your professional body and organisations that provide clinical training e.g. the Mental Health Providers Network.
8. Demonstrate Professionalism and Reliability
Organisations and clients need to trust that you will be reliable and deliver high-quality work on time. As an independent contractor, your reputation is very important. Upholding professionalism in all interactions, being punctual, and consistently meeting deadlines is key to building that reputation. Remember the phrase, ‘you are only as good as’ your last role.
Tip: Use calendars and invoicing software to stay organised and ensure timely delivery of services. Create a weekly schedule that outlines billable hours, admin tasks, and time for professional development. Answer emails quickly and maintain clear, professional boundaries with clients.
9. Be Disciplined, Strategic and Diplomatic
Contractors often work unsupervised, so you need to be disciplined in managing your time and workload. Being a strategic thinker is about thinking outside the box, questioning, staying informed, having ideas and being prepared for change, while diplomacy helps in navigating complex colleague and client relationships, managing feedback, and addressing workplace disputes.
Tip: Work out what you need to stay on top of your work. This might include a weekly schedule, focusing on the best times of day to complete a task or scheduling work breaks, calendar reminders or even taking a run before your workday. If conflicts arise with clients or organisations, approach them in person, frame problems in terms of solutions and determine each other’s needs to move forward.
10. Develop Emotional Intelligence and Adaptability
Flexing your emotional intelligence muscles as a clinician helps you maintain professional boundaries, manage stress, and respond empathetically to challenges. Successful independent contractors must also be comfortable with ambiguity and change. Contracts may end abruptly, client needs may shift, you may be juggling more than one contract at a time and you’ll need to adjust quickly.
Tip: Practice self-care and maintain clear boundaries between work and personal life. In changing situations, view challenges as opportunities for learning and development. Resilience is key to long-term success as an independent contractor. Some of that will come from your own internal reserves, but as mentioned in previous blogs, resilience equally requires supportive teams and organisations.
Conclusion
Being a successful independent contractor as a clinician requires clinical expertise, strong communication, emotional intelligence, a proactive approach to problem-solving, openness to change and an interest in ongoing business development. By focusing on these traits and continuously developing your skills, you’ll position yourself well as a professional in your field of practice. If you would like support to reach your peak potential as a contractor, feel free to contact me for business coaching.
This is the end of the 4-part blog series on contracting as a clinician. All the best in your successful contracting practice!
About Melinda Austen
Melinda Austen is a clinical supervisor and workplace and leadership coach with over three decades of clinical experience working with refugees, asylum seekers, Defence veterans, Police and couples. She now helps the helpers. Melinda supports colleagues, including social workers, clinicians and other professionals such as lawyers and allied health who work with vulnerable clients. In her supervision and workplace coaching practice at person2person Consulting, she is driven by a desire to help people foster healthy, productive teams and thrive in their work. www.person2personconsulting.com