--- title: "Leadership: How to Handle a Challenging Decision" id: "16624" type: "post" slug: "leadership-how-to-handle-a-challenging-decision" published_at: "2013-03-28T23:00:46+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T19:56:15+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/03/28/leadership-how-to-handle-a-challenging-decision/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/03/28/leadership-how-to-handle-a-challenging-decision.md" excerpt: "Leaders are constantly facing challenges, but how can they minimize the cost of error? Also: Why the future of marketing lies in intimacy." taxonomy_category: - "Executive Leadership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Cost Management" - "decision-making" - "Leadership" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Leadership: How to Handle a Challenging Decision Don’t you wish a Magic 8 Ball would actually predict the future? Unfortunately, prediction tools aren’t very useful while trying to make decisions. How one leadership coach thinks you should tackle challenges, and more, in today’s Social Media Roundup: ### Swaying Between Decisions > The Leadership Pendulum [http://t.co/JRGeFo7Yw2 (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/JRGeFo7Yw2) > via [@toddbnielsen (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/toddbnielsen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#Leadership (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leadership?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Nissrine Ghannoum (@nghannoum) [March 28, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/nghannoum/status/317275168537993218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **How do you confront your leadership challenges?** Sometimes you find yourself in a lose-lose situation, but decisions must be made. That’s why leadership coach [Sandro da Silva created “The Leadership Pendulum. (opens in a new tab)](http://www.toddnielsen.com/international-leadership-blogathon/the-leadership-pendulum/) ” “The Leadership Pendulum is a tool that helps leaders become aware of what other possibilities there are between the two extremes they at the moment see,” he explains. “Moving from one extreme to the other, leaders are invited to translate what the different pendulum positions mean to their current challenge. After translating what those different positions mean, they decide which best to use or implement.” *(ht [@nghannoum (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/nghannoum/status/317275168537993218) )* ### Maintaining the Human Touch > RT [@jkcallas (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/jkcallas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > The Human Touch – Important For [#Marketing (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Marketing?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Today and Tomorrow via [@brennermichael (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/BrennerMichael?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [http://t.co/Z8CN53Gap8 (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/Z8CN53Gap8) > > — Rebecca Page (@RebeccaLPage) [March 28, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/RebeccaLPage/status/317309226705879042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Last time I checked, humanity isn’t made up of robots.** Humans liked to be communicated with as if they matter, so, in marketing, you must show your audience that they are important to you. Dave Hutchison, head of the North American Marketing team at SAP, was [interviewed by B2B Marketing Insider about the future of marketing (opens in a new tab)](http://www.b2bmarketinginsider.com/strategy/human-touch-in-marketing) . One of the things that he highlighted was the future lies in intimacy. “We need to break through the clutter, establish a connection, build trust and credibility and maintain a relationship over time,” Hutchison said. “I believe this is a lost art that is not gone but rather sleeping. Time to wake up!” How do you express to your audience and members that they matter to your association? *(ht [@RebeccaLPage (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/RebeccaLPage/status/317309226705879042) )* What ideas have you been sharing today? Let us know in the comments. (iStockphoto/Thinkstock) [Anita Ferrer](https://associationsnow.com/author/anita-ferrer/) Anita Ferrer is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/anita-ferrer/) Tags: [#Cost Management](https://associationsnow.com/tag/cost-management/) [#decision-making](https://associationsnow.com/tag/decision-making/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoSuccess lesson: Know yourself, know your job, think aheadJanuary 3, 2017](https://associationsnow.com/2017/01/03/success-lesson-know-yourself-know-your-job-think-ahead/) - [VideoSuccess lesson: Understand your roleJanuary 3, 2017](https://associationsnow.com/2017/01/03/success-lesson-understand-your-role/) - [VideoAmerican Geophysical Union: Standing Up for Science: AGU’s Year of Action for Scientists and SocietySeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-geophysical-union-standing-up-for-science-agus-year-of-action-for-scientists-and-society/) - [VideoInt. Society for the Study of Xenobiotics: ISSX Africa: Transforming Science, Connecting WorldsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/int-society-for-the-study-of-xenobiotics-issx-africa-transforming-science-connecting-worlds/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2013%2F03%2F28%2Fleadership-how-to-handle-a-challenging-decision%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !