Feeling old and past it

[Ombrepatchwork]

I am new here but looking for opinions please that are not from within my family/friend circle.

I work for a large organisation and recently changed roles to a newly developed five-person team (2 of which only work one day over the weekend). I have been in my role 2 weeks and have a lot of experience within my organisation (just to give abetter understanding of where I am in the organisation - but not with
seniority).

My new role predominantly consists of conversing with executives about their
devices (in a medical context). This role when advertised required experience
within a medical environment, which I have but needed to learn the specifics
surrounding the equipment which I do not have experience in (neither do my 4
other colleagues). I and one other colleague are FT and were asked to learn the
information around the equipment which we went on a course for 5 very long days listening to a device executive and completing e-learning and various
assessments. At the end of the 5 days we were expected to perform our job role and start supporting everyone along with the ability to relay this information we had learnt to educate our executives within the organisation, which is where the problem lies to an extent.

My other FT colleague is 30 years my junior and has recently studied with minimal experience in the medical field but is very bright and confident, I am on the other hand confident but do not carry the confidence of him. He is and is very able (have watched him converse with our execs) very able to 'wing' his way through conversations informing them of all he has learnt and
is able to deliver. I on the other hand are struggling a bit with confidence, I regularly refer to my learning notes as I want to be confident that the information, I am delivering is correct. I am not able of retaining all this information I have learnt and then just delivering it, it takes time, at least for me and I feel also comes with experience but why is my junior colleague able to just deliver this straight away after learning? (I feel old!!).

I feel way behind, is this normal? Am I not capable of doing this? Have I bitten off more than I can chew, or will it just take time? My gut reaction is that it will come with experience but why has my junior (in age) colleague got it all figured out! Help!!

The fact that you’re worrying about it means that I think you’re going to be ok.

Try opening the conversation by asking about their needs: ‘How is the model X59 working out for you?’ People love to talk and feel that someone is listening to them. Present an ‘I’m here to help you’ vibe.

Learn the key differences between different models.

Prepare a couple of ‘set pieces’ from memory, for example a comparison of two models.

Hello OP,

Are they really expecting after 5 days of continued learning to deliver? Surely not all or everyone would be able to deliver all that you have learnt straightaway. Sounds almost impossible and something that will take time. Not everyone either would have that level of confidence, I know I certainly wouldn't!

@BadSkiingMum thanks, I am hoping I will be ok too. Bad idea possibly to change jobs where I have to retain and have discussions with others. I am menopausal with brain fog and a bit of low self esteem but equally know I am more than capable of doing this - it just may take a while, Your approach is exactly what I have been doing. A lot of listening rather than talking but equally showing I have product knowledge, I just do not have the confidence of my colleague.

@Victoriaplum1 Yes! Although I agree with what you are saying, not everybody can learn, retain and deliver straightaway.