Proactive Warning for Business Executives: 3 Skills Set to Vanish from Our Markets Before 2027
By: Samer Farrouj
A few months ago, I sat with the CEO of a company that has been in the market for over 25 years. Their sales figures were solid, the team was dedicated, and the market was familiar. He told me with absolute confidence: "We are stable… the market is clear."
Just six months later, that company lost 18% of its market share. This didn't happen because of a bad product or a stronger competitor; it happened because of skills that no longer have a place in today's market.
As a manager, your mission today is no longer just managing the present—it is protecting your company from "Quiet Extinction." Let me be clear: by 2026, these skills will have completely phased out:
It is no longer acceptable to say, "The agency is responsible for our marketing." According to a Gartner report, over 73% of failed marketing decisions are caused by management’s inability to understand data, relying solely on external parties.
The Problem: You don't know why a campaign succeeded or failed, nor can you sense when the market trend shifts.
The Alternative Skill: Data Literacy before Delegation. You don't need to become a marketer, but you must be a manager who understands what is being managed in your name.
I once consulted for a company that relied on 6 weekly reports, 4 Excel sheets, and a manual tracking log. The result? Delayed decisions, an exhausted team, and missed opportunities. According to McKinsey, companies relying on manual tracking lose up to 30% of their operational productivity without even realizing it. The real danger? You discover the loss too late.
Paper does not provide a real-time image.
It does not allow for proactive action.
The Alternative Skill: Digital Operations Management. Utilizing even simple or free digital tools to manage via "Live Data" rather than "Weekly Memories."
Today, 60% of the new workforce belongs to Gen Z. In a world where smart tools execute orders better than humans, the "do as I say" style of leadership no longer leads—it slowly extinguishes motivation. According to the Harvard Business Review, teams managed through a collaborative/participatory style:
Achieve 21% higher performance.
Experience 40% lower turnover rates.
The Required Shift: Moving from "I decide" to "We understand… and I take full responsibility."
Applied AI: Focusing on practical application, not just showing off.
Proactive Sales Reading: Predicting trends based on digital patterns.
Hybrid Teams: Managed with clarity and transparency, not through pressure.
The most dangerous decision you can make as a manager today is assuming that tomorrow will look like yesterday. The market neither waits nor explains; you either learn at speed or retreat in silence.
Samer Farrouj Marketing & Sales Consultant and Trainer
