How do you keep your emotions from interfering with your productivity?
The interviewer wants to know if you consider yourself to be an emotionally driven person. The healthcare industry can sometimes be emotional, and the interviewer wants to see how you keep your emotions from interfering with your productivity.
Keep in mind - almost everyone is an emotional creature to some degree, but there are other ways that you can describe yourself that have a more positive connotation. If you are passionate, you could choose to refer to yourself as:
- Expressive
- Communicative
- Open
- Unreserved
"Everyone is emotional to a certain degree, and I consider myself kind-hearted and open. A healthcare career can sometimes be emotional; however, I choose to focus on the positives. For instance, - if we are close to losing a patient, I will focus on positive memories rather than the illness. This mindset has consistently allowed me to continue with a productive shift, no matter the emotions that come my way."
"This is a great question. We've all had those sad cases. A child dies, or you have to give someone a cancer diagnosis. It's professional to take a few minutes after an encounter like that and let those emotions come and go. I cope with these emotions by telling myself that it's not my story; it's the patient's story. I think it's okay to be moved by someone else's experience, but I don't need to make it mine. I have never let my emotions interfere with my productivity in the seven years I have been in this industry."
Having emotions means you have compassion and empathy for others, which are excellent qualities to have as a healthcare professional. However, you must find a way to keep your emotions in check while working to be the most effective at your job. Describe what methods you use to keep your feelings from interfering with your work.
