How Do You Follow Go-Gurt?

The Yoplait team at General Mills had just created and launched the Go-Gurt product. It was the best launch in the history of the entire company. After that success, the simple question of “What’s Next?” had the team wondering how they would be able to re-create the spontaneous, innovation-in-a-bottle culture that had developed while working on the Go-Gurt product. In addition, new members were feeling a bit intimidated. As one new member said, “It’s a bit like joining the New York Yankees the day after they win the World Series.”

You Start By Sharing Ideas

Sweeney focused the newly reformed team on teamwork; specifically selecting improvisation-based exercises that allowed the group to share ideas in a safe, non-threatening and statusless environment. When the point of accepting all ideas was made, the old guard “Yankees” recognized that without their ability to accept all ideas, its likely yogurt might never have ended up in a tube. With our partnership, General Mills innovation has blossomed and both Sweeney and Caleb are often asked back to conduct improvisation-based training across divisions. For example, working with packaging and sourcing teams, we helped them reconsider how they might work together better.

Yes, And…

In the end, the payoff could actually be measured in dollars and cents. The packaging and sourcing groups discovered that waste from the manufacturing source could be repurposed by the packaging team, and consequently saved the company millions of dollars. And the Go-Gurt group has continued to create game-changing new products to drive the General Mills business forward.

"John brings a rich and high energy perspective on innovation. He has brought great value to a wide-variety of my executive and mid-level audiences over the years. The requests to "bring John back" speaks well of his impact on others. I would highly recommend him if your interest is developing a culture of increased innovation ... and you are willing to have a bit of fun along the way!"

- Kevin Wilde, Vice President and Chief Learning Officer