Leadership on a shoestring

No matter what happens, like water, we will always need leaders. Funny thing to consider though; when situations arise where leadership is critical - take the issues that have led the the MDGs for instance - resources don't tend to be in the habit of lining themselves up waiting for people, leaders, to make use of them. Indeed, the need for leadership can arise because of an absence of resources (which in itself could be a consequence of poor leadership). My point here is that when leadership is needed most, the resources needed (be it time, materials, personnel, honesty...) might not always be handy. This is what brings about the term 'leadership on a shoestring'. A quick Google search (0.33 seconds in fact) revealed that most uses of the term of the web refer to leadership training: how to pull off an effective leadership development course for employees on a tight budget for example. On some level, it communicates the same basic sort of message: all leadership involves some aspect of effective resource management.

Not quite leadership on a shoestring though, so I'll just get straight to the point. When it comes to making the most of what you (may or may not) have, there are a few things I think you should keep in mind. These are by no means exclusive to this scenario. Rather, they are especially important.

1. Keep the target/aim/goal in mind. It's always good to prioritise. When you don't have a lot to work with, it becomes imperative to focus on the task at hand. Once you're sure you've done everything you can and you've done it well, other things can be attended to.
2. Make it a team effort. Don't become bogged down when you can delegate. Aside from stressing yourself out, it will get you nowhere. The beauty of having a team is that everyone will have different strengths and weaknesses. As a leader you should be able to play on this to get the best out of each person. Not only will people then work more effectively, chances are they will feel more fulfilled as well.
3. Think outside the box. They say necessity is the mother of invention, and it's true. You may be tight but ultimately, you determine how 'tight' your thinking is. Be creative and innovative and for all you know, that thing you thought was a problem might just turn into the single greatest thing that happened.
4. Expect the unexpected. Like the organisers of the Delhi Commonwealth Games are finding out, no matter how hard you prepare, no matter what the circumstances are, you can never be sure of what's around the corner. Although it could be said that they wasted a lot of time, progress has been significantly hampered by an unexpected amount of rain. This is peculiar given that they are in the middle of the monsoon season. Had they factored the possibility of freak rains, perhaps they could have avoided a lot of the trouble they find themselves in now. Always think ahead. You save a lot more time thinking about these things in advance than having to think of solutions on the spot.

I'm sure there are many other things that could be included here, but this is where I will stop. Any thoughts?