SCOTLAND: After another trying year dominated by COVID-19, the Omicron threat seems to be receding and many people may now be looking at the beginning of the end of the pandemic.

But the fallout from COVID-19 will continue to pose huge challenges in terms of economic growth, supply chain issues, labor shortages and employee confidence.

As always, effective leadership in business is paramount. But strong leaders must think beyond the pandemic.

So how do they navigate a future filled with uncertainty? Here are five core competencies that all leaders facing these challenges must demonstrate and embody.

HAVE A VISION

The pandemic has caused an unprecedented disruption of trade in most industrial sectors. Vision is about creating a picture of what the future of an organization will be that will serve as a roadmap to success.

When this vision is understood and shared, it generates enthusiasm and motivation, and builds employee confidence. Good leaders cultivate not only a plan for how the vision can be achieved, but also a deep belief that it will be successful.

When COVID-19 first emerged, Mark Aslett, CEO of aerospace and defense company Mercury Systems, had been tracking the virus for several months and had a clear vision of how his organization could address the emerging challenges.

His three-pronged plan was to protect the health, safety and livelihood of Mercury employees, reduce operational financial risk to the company, and uphold its commitment to customers and shareholders.

Aslett communicated this clearly in a way that resonated with employees, customers and shareholders. The success of his vision was reflected in the strong financial performance demonstrated throughout the pandemic, leaving the company poised for further success in the year ahead.