Assuming you're a righty, if you are working on the right side of the mandible, move the head and have it facing all the way to the left. Adjust it as necessary to have a better view of the occlusal etc. Make sure you're sitting at around 7-8 o'clock and not behind the patient.
If you're working on the left side of the mandible, move the head to the right all the way just like before. Adjust as necessary. Sit at around 11-12 o'clock.
This should make all movements easier to perceive in the mirror. If it's still off, you need to adjust the head a bit more such that the facial of the tooth you will be working on is directly facing you.
This is what I do for crowns, but I'm guessing it should work for operative. By moving the patients head all the way to the side, it allows you to focus on the tooth you're working on and indirect movements should be simplified. If you don't angle the patient's head, you have to work indirect in multiple axes and that is too hard. Really for operative, I used direct as much I could. I also found drilling with touch perception to be way more helpful with my box than indirect vision. Hold the handpiece very gently and lightly such that you can feel the bur cutting when you use it. Shape the box with a 169 carbide. $$$.
Hope that makes sense