Managerial competencies in the supermarket retail segment in Brazil before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract In times of major crises, such as those brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations must adapt how they operate. In this context, the importance attributed to each managerial competence can be changed to guarantee the organization’s survival. Thus, considering managerial competencies as a set of characteristics and traits that favor superior performance (Boyatzys, 1982) and the ability to mobilize and combine personal and environmental resources in a specific situation (Le Boterf, 1999), this article analyzes changes in the relevance attributed to managerial skills in the supermarket retail segment in Brazil before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a quantitative study with data collected through a questionnaire applied to managers. Data were analyzed using non-parametric statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and paired Wilcoxon signed rank test. The results show that changed competencies included: memory, use of socialized power, use of unilateral power, and knowing how to combine resources and mobilize them in each context. This study provides information to guide managers and organizations in developing and using managerial skills in times of change.