Final answer:
Trait theory is associated with the idea that effective leaders possess certain abilities and individual characteristics, such as emotional intelligence and flexibility. It focuses on inherent traits that contribute to a leader's effectiveness, distinguishing it from other theories like contingency, situational, and transformational leadership.
Step-by-step explanation:
The suggestion that leaders are effective because of their abilities or individual characteristics such as emotional intelligence, dominance, sensitivity to others, flexibility, and stability is associated with trait theory. Trait theory posits that certain personality traits and characteristics contribute to the effectiveness of a leader. This theory is contrasted with other styles of leadership such as transactional and transformational, which focus on different dynamics between leaders and followers. Whereas the contingency theory suggests that the success of leadership is contingent upon the situation and environment, and situational theory asserts that leaders must adjust their style to the context at hand. The transformational theory focuses on leaders who inspire and motivate followers to achieve more than what is usually expected of them.