Sorry if the thread title is a little woolly! I've recently started having some professional coaching, offered at work (due to me being female in a very male dominated sector and having just moved into a more senior role). After a few sessions, we've hit upon a stumbling block. I'm scared of being wrong, getting things wrong, being criticised. It's hindering my decision making capabilities and at times makes me seem defensive. I usually have reasons behind my decisions but my role is quite subjective (marketing) so everyone has a bloody opinion and sometimes I just freeze and can't make a decision. Then I go the opposite way and make snap decisions because I feel it makes me look authoritative. So my question is to those with jobs where you need to make decisions that others might question, how do you do it? How do you know you're right? And how do you deal with opposition?