It is also known as a capability model because it examines the relationship between a leader's knowledge and skills (i.e., capabilities) and the leader's performance. The capabilities that make effective leadership possible. Leadership capabilities can be developed over time through education and experience.

Individual Attributes include four components:

• General cognitive ability (Intelligence: perceptual processing, information processing, general reasoning skills, creative and divergent thinking capacities, and memory skills. Related to biology, not experience).
• Crystallized cognitive ability (Intellectual ability learned or acquired over time. Store of knowledge gained through experience.
  Acquired intelligence)
• Motivation (Three aspects of motivation is essential to developing leadership skills: Willingness and motivation to tackle complex organizational problems (willingness to lead); Willingness to express dominance; commitment to the social good of the organization).
• Personality (Any personality characteristic that helps people cope with complex organizational situations is most likely related to leadership performance).