Q.Why must a good leader be accountable?

The book lists ten qualities of a good leader. Honesty — a leader whose ethical, straightforward behaviour is a key value earns a team that follows that same standard. Delegation of duty — a good leader focuses on key responsibilities and delegates work/authority to teammates, overseeing how they perform rather than doing everything alone. Communication skills — without clear, consistent communication, no one understands the mission, goals or instructions. Confidence — a confident leader earns the trust needed for others to actually follow her/his instructions.

Commitment — a leader who works alongside the team, visibly as committed as anyone, earns respect and instils that same drive in others. Accountability — taking personal responsibility for outcomes (one's own AND the team's), never blaming others, and fixing problems rather than assigning blame. Enthusiasm — (from a Greek root meaning "possessed by a god") being motivating, energetic, passionate and dynamic about one's own work and about the role of leading. Focus — thinking rationally and staying self-driven toward better results.

Ability to inspire — probably the hardest leadership skill: persuading others to follow by setting a genuinely good example, not just by instruction. Responsibility — understanding that leadership is about responsibility, not power, and owning both the failures and the successes that follow from one's actions. These ten qualities work together: a leader who is honest and accountable but cannot communicate, or who is confident but cannot delegate, is missing a piece of what the role actually requires — which is exactly why a captain, when interviewed, is usually asked about several of these qualities at once (commitment, delegation, conflict resolution, motivating the team).