Learning Why Great Leaders Don’t Always Say “Yes”

It’s a common problem for professionals, especially those still growing in their careers and wanting to make a positive impression on their organization. They say yes to everything. A last-minute meeting, new project, quick design request — they try to do it all.

In their eagerness to prove their value, they often overlook whether they truly have the time or bandwidth to complete the work at a high level. That can lead to subpar results that don’t satisfy anyone. The FEDA Young Industry Leaders (YIL) retreat at ITW Corporate Headquarters in Illinois earlier this month advocated for a better way. Instead of always saying “yes,” try “yes, but…” or “yes, and…” This small variation gives professionals an opportunity to elaborate on what taking on a task will truly require. It also helps managers understand what may be sacrificed when employees become overloaded and unable to perform at their best.

The concept of “less but better,” called Essentialism, was a central theme of the retreat’s first educational session, The Power of Focus. Mihyar Mohammed, group president at ITW, led the discussion and underscored the importance of focus and the pursuit of simplicity in being a great leader.

The two-day leadership development, peer networking, and industry engagement event, held June 10-11, brought together young professionals from across the foodservice equipment and supplies industry to explore the skills and mindsets needed to lead organizations through growth and change.

Participants engaged in interactive leadership sessions led by ITW executives, focusing on topics including strategic focus, organizational alignment, growth mindset, and building high-performing cultures. In addition to Mohammed’s presentation on Essentialism, attendees heard from Jennifer Monin, vice president and general manager of U.S. warewash at ITW. Drawing on experiences with turnaround acquisitions and rapidly growing businesses, Monin challenged the group to consider how culture is built, how alignment is maintained, and how leaders drive momentum without losing organizational clarity.

Beyond the leadership discussions, attendees toured ITW's Innovation Center and FEG Kitchen, gaining firsthand exposure to the company's innovation process. The retreat also provided valuable opportunities for participants to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and build relationships with others from across the industry.

Feedback from attendees reinforced the value of both the leadership content and the relationships developed during the event, with networking, peer learning, and leadership development consistently identified as key takeaways. Through the YIL program, FEDA remains committed to fostering leadership growth and industry connections.

Know someone who would benefit from participating in the Young Industry Leaders program? Contact Ashley Mueller at ashley@feda.com to learn more about upcoming opportunities to get involved.