Why is accountability considered a burden of leadership?

Accountability is considered a burden of leadership because it signifies that a leader must be answerable for the outcomes produced by their team. This means that if the team succeeds or fails in achieving its goals, the leader bears responsibility for those results. By being accountable, a leader must take ownership of both the successes and failures of the group, which can create significant pressure. This responsibility often involves making tough decisions, addressing performance issues, and ensuring that the team stays aligned with the overall objectives of the organization. As a result, leaders need to remain vigilant and proactive, which can add to the demands of their role, thus emphasizing why accountability is viewed as a burden.

The other options do not capture this essence of accountability effectively. While overseeing organizational goals is part of a leader's role, it doesn't encompass the weight of responsibility tied to outcomes. Similarly, leniency in decision-making can actually reduce accountability rather than represent it, and focusing solely on individual performance misses the collaborative aspect of leadership and shared responsibility for team results.