This article explores the attitude of managers towards the COVID-19 pandemic, providing an
overview of their opinions on its consequences and potential impact on the country’s future socioeconomic
development. The study is important since it provides insight into how management styles
may be effective in times of uncertainty and crisis. The research involved 661 managers, including
383 from the social sphere. The study utilized the management potential assessment questionnaire
(PMO, version 5.0, Sinyagin, 2018), as well as a specially developed questionnaire. The participants
were differentiated on two grounds: their attitude towards the pandemic either as a mobilizing
challenge or as a serious not always surmountable difficulty in actual management. The findings
reflect that the managers’ attitudes about the prospects for the country’s development after the end
of the pandemic, commonly referred to as “optimism-pessimism”, have profound effect on their
management strategies and performance indicators. It is revealed that readiness for learning and
social mobility are key characteristics associated with optimistic future expectations. Internality,
personality strength, a clear strategic life idea, and managerial experience are most associated with
overcoming current circumstances. The paper concludes that developing and enhancing these
qualities is a significant task that managers have in today’s uncertain world.