Foundations of Leadership and Management KSBs - Hard vs Soft Approaches and Emotional Intelligence
5OS06 – Leadership and management development
This CIPD Level 5 video explores the foundations of leadership and management knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) within unit 5OS06, specifically addressing assessment criteria AC 1.4 on comparing different competencies required for effective organisational leadership. The session examines hard versus soft approaches to management, alongside emotional intelligence and resilience, whilst covering analytical problem-solving, attribution theory, and the ability to lead diverse teams with ethical governance. Learners will gain practical understanding of how to balance directive and collaborative leadership styles, recognise cognitive biases, and promote wellbeing and positive EDI agendas within their organisations.
What this video covers
Mapped to AC 1.4 of Unit 5OS06, this video addresses the knowledge, skills and behaviours that distinguish leadership from management in organisational settings, resisting the common assumption that the two terms are interchangeable. Central to the discussion is the contrast between hard and soft approaches: hard approaches are examined in relation to formal structures, performance metrics, accountability and operational efficiency, whilst soft approaches are considered in terms of employee engagement, motivation and the psychological contract. The video makes clear that neither orientation is inherently superior, and that situational context — including crisis management, cultural change and innovation — determines which mode of operating is appropriate at any given moment.
A substantial portion of the video is devoted to emotional intelligence, drawing on Daniel Goleman's five-component framework of self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills. The video considers why these capabilities matter specifically within human systems and how they connect to leadership effectiveness, team performance and working environment quality. Alongside emotional intelligence, the video covers resilience as a distinct but related capability, examining it not as emotional suppression but as a set of behaviours and psychological resources that enable leaders and managers to sustain performance and wellbeing under pressure.
The video also situates these topics within the broader landscape of AC 1.4's indicative content, which spans attribution theory, cognitive biases, analytical and decision-making skills, and the ethical, value-driven dimensions of leadership and management. Wellbeing approaches, sensitivity to events and the responsibility to drive positive equality, diversity and inclusion agendas are all brought into scope alongside the more commonly discussed competency frameworks, making the coverage of KSBs in this video notably wide-ranging for a Level 5 treatment of the subject.
Assessment Criteria 1.4
Compare the different knowledge, skills and behaviours required for leadership and management in organisations.
Indicative Content
Soft and hard approaches in context, emotional intelligence and resilience, sensitivity to events, relevant professional knowledge and competencies, analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills, attribution theory and cognitive biases, ability to lead and manage people. Drive positive EDI agendas. Ethical, moral and value- driven governance, awareness and promotion of wellbeing approaches.
What You'll Learn
Video covering: Foundations of Leadership and Management KSBs - Hard vs Soft Approaches and Emotional Intelligence
About 5OS06 – Leadership and management development
This unit builds on the fundamentals of learning and development. It focuses on developing leaders and managers to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to drive a working environment which is cohesive, diverse, innovative and high-performing. It builds awareness of the right tools and approaches to facilitate development which will ultimately impact organisational effectiveness.
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