My Degree Was Supposed to Open Doors—Now It’s Just a Wall Between Me and My Team

I always thought my MBA would be my golden ticket, but now it feels more like a barrier. Just a few weeks ago, I was suddenly assigned to lead a team at our Dallas office—no heads-up, no time to settle in, just a new title and a room full of people who barely know me. Now, I’m the one delivering tough news about budget cuts, and honestly, it feels like everyone’s waiting for me to trip up. I’m younger than most of my team, and I can sense they’re questioning if I really earned this spot or just got lucky with my diploma. Has anyone else ever felt like an outsider after a big change at work? How did you get your team to see you as more than just a job title? I’d really appreciate your advice or stories. 😓 #LeadershipStruggles #TeamDynamics #NewManager #JobCareer