The Role Model Blueprint: How to Replicate Market Leadership in New Regions

“The path to becoming #1 isn’t always about finding a new secret. Often, it’s about having the discipline to learn from the champions already in your midst and the courage to replicate their winning strategies.”

Atip Muangsuwan
CEO Coach and Coach Supervisor

As leaders, we often look outside our organizations for success stories—benchmarking against competitors or studying industry titans. But what if the most powerful, actionable blueprint for growth is already hidden within your own company?

I recently coached an executive—let’s call him Tony—who faced a challenge familiar to many growth-focused leaders. His company, a major player in its industry, had a clear goal: achieve the #1 market share in three key developing regions in China. While the company had already conquered this goal in a mature market like Shanghai, replicating that success elsewhere seemed elusive.

The session’s goal was straightforward: “How do we become Number One?” But the breakthrough came from a simple, powerful shift in perspective I posed as his coach.

The Power of the Internal Role Model

Instead of starting from scratch, we turned inward. I asked Tony a pivotal question:

“If we use your Shanghai operation as the role model, what are the key success factors that made it Number One?”

This question unlocked a treasure trove of strategic insights. Shanghai wasn’t just a successful region; it was a living case study, a proven blueprint waiting to be analyzed. Tony identified several critical pillars of their success:

1. Dominant Brand Presence:The brand was ubiquitous and trusted.
2. High-Quality Partners:They worked with the best, most effective distributors and retailers.
3. Seamless Internal Collaboration:Product, marketing, and sales teams operated as a unified force.
4. A Win-Win Philosophy:The company ensured its partners prospered, creating loyalty and drive.
5. 100% Market Coverage:Specifically, they had complete penetration in critical retail channels like Home Décor shops.

As we drilled down, one theme emerged as the non-negotiable foundation: Coverage. Shanghai had more feet on the street, more presence in stores, and more touchpoints with customers. It was the engine of their market share.

From Insight to Action: The “Role Model” Strategy

Analyzing the role model revealed the gaps in the developing regions. The strategy was no longer a mystery; it was a matter of executing the Shanghai blueprint with precision. Our exploration led to three key strategic actions:

1. The Relentless Focus on Coverage:
   The data showed that over recent years, coverage in Tier 3 and 4 cities had eroded. The immediate action was to re-deploy sales resources to these underserved areas, mirroring Shanghai’s density. Furthermore, they identified a need to recruit new, dynamic partners to replace aging relationships, ensuring long-term market presence.
2. Reigniting Cross-Functional Collaboration:
   Shanghai’s success was a team sport. We outlined a plan for tighter collaboration between product, marketing, and sales teams, starting with an on-time, well-executed product launch supported by a clear internal communication plan, like a targeted newsletter.
3. Executing the “Playbook”:
   The goal shifted from “figuring it out” to “faithfully replicating a proven model.” The action steps became clear, measurable, and directly inspired by the role model’s playbook.

The Leader’s Takeaway: Don’t Invent, Replicate

Tony’s word of wisdom at the end of our session perfectly captured the essence: “Make successful model again in other regions.”

As executives, your role is to identify these internal “role models”—the teams, individuals, or regions that are already winning—and dissect their success. Ask yourself and your team:

• Who is already achieving what we want to achieve?
• What are the exact strategies, behaviors, and conditions driving their success?
• How can we systematically apply this blueprint elsewhere?

This approach transforms leadership from a guessing game into a strategic science. It builds on proven foundations, accelerates execution, and aligns the organization around what you already know works.

The path to becoming #1 isn’t always about finding a new secret. Often, it’s about having the discipline to learn from the champions already in your midst and the courage to replicate their winning strategies.

Are you ready to unlock the role model within your organization?

About Atip Muangsuwan: Atip Muangsuwan is the Founder & CEO of The Best Coach International Co., Ltd. He is a CEO & UHNWI Coach, Certified Mentor & Supervisor for global executive coaches, Holistic Life Transformation Expert, Business & Life Strategist, and Corporate Facilitator/Trainer. With a proven track record of helping clients achieve their career goals and job promotions, Atip is dedicated to supporting individuals in their personal and professional growth.