Title: The Three Forces: Pressure, Overload, and Drift

Description: Most workplace incidents don’t happen without warning. Three forces show up first: external pressure, internal overload, and mental drift. The challenge is that most teams can’t identify or name them, which means they can’t effectively intervene. In this session, Jaison Thomas draws on nearly 20 years of experience in high-stakes operations to provide ag leaders with a practical framework for recognizing these conditions in real time, communicating clearly when it matters most, and building a culture that prevents small issues from becoming serious incidents.

Speaker Bio: Jaison Thomas spent nearly 20 years working in the same types of operations his audiences face every day. He began his career as a mechanic in the United States Air Force and later went on to manage hazardous chemical plants and oversee food and beverage facilities in California’s Central Valley. His work focuses on the intersection of operational safety and leadership, helping frontline and mid-level leaders build teams that identify and address problems before they become incidents. His “Three Forces” methodology was developed from real-world experience and reflects consistent patterns seen across industries, including agriculture, where pressure is seasonal, overload is constant, and drift can carry significant consequences for people and operations.