April 29, 2024 • 31 mins
Ever wondered how a hospital could be a hotbed of hilarity? Join me, Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis, and my esteemed colleagues Tom Carr and Joe Fangman from Craig Hospital, as we take you behind the scenes of a place where joy is just as important as the therapies.
Leadership can be a high-wire act, but what if the secret to balance was a willingness to clown around? We dig into how embracing vulnerability and endorsing fun can shield against burnout and create a workplace where employees are eager to clock in. From trike races to laughter-filled meetings, discover how our leadership's commitment to mirth cultivates a work environment where innovation thrives and staff feel empowered to bring their whole, whimsical selves to the job.
For more information, transcriptions and behind-the-scene photos, visit https://craighospital.org/unstoppable
Craig Hospital is a world-renowned rehabilitation hospital that exclusively specializes in neurorehabilitation and research for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and brain injury (BI). Located in Englewood, Colorado, Craig Hospital is a 350,000-square-foot, 93-bed, private, not-for-profit center of excellence providing a comprehensive system of inpatient and outpatient neurorehabilitation. https://craighospital.org
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jandel Allen-Davis (00:03):
Welcome to Unstoppable at Craig, where we
pull back the curtain on whatmakes healthy workplace cultures
click and what happens whenpeople are empowered to expand
the boundaries of what ispossible.
We'll explore the perspectivesof employees and leaders who
have carte blanche to speaktheir truths, tell their stories
and unlock uncommon ways ofapproaching challenges.
I'm Dr Jandell Allen Davis, ceoand president of Craig Hospital
(00:27):
, a world-renownedrehabilitation hospital that
exclusively specializes in theneurorehabilitation and research
of patients with spinal cordand brain injury.
Join me as we learn from peoplewho love what they do and what
happens when fear doesn't stifleinnovation.
I have so been looking forwardto the opportunity to do this
(00:49):
particular segment ofUnstoppable at Craig, and really
the theme is about theimportance of play at work.
You know just that whole ideaof what does mirth and fun do in
the workplace, and in fact,research has shown that play
boosts productivity, it bringshigher creativity and it creates
(01:09):
a stronger sense of hope andhumor and, heaven knows, we have
a lot of both of those here atCraig.
When my son was a tiny guy he'snow 33, but he went to
Montessori and they called playwork there.
So I love that.
I always remember this wholenotion of play as work or play
is work.
Jolene Godfrey said all workand no play doesn't just make
(01:31):
Jack and Jill dull, it kills thepotential of discovery, mastery
and openness to change andflexibility, and it hinders
innovation and invention.
Can't think of more true wordsthat have been spoken in a long,
long time, and so we're goingto spend some time talking to a
couple of my colleagues at workTom Carr, who is the director of
(01:51):
our recreational or therapeuticrecreation department, and Joe
Fangman, who's a supervisor inphysical therapy, and these are
also not just two greatcolleagues, but even as we were
trying to get geared up to dothis, we've been laughing since
we started, and that's notunusual here at Craig.
It's sort of how we rock androll here.
Let's, though, start with thiswhole idea of we work hard and
(02:12):
play hard.
What does work hard and playhard mean for you when you come
into work for the day?
Joe Fangman (02:17):
Yeah, I think work hard, play hard for me means
they should be indistinguishableyou know if you come to work
and you work hard and you havefun.
They should be indistinguishable.
You know, if you come to work,you work hard and you have fun.
The thing we do for eight and ahalf hours plus a day isn't a
job.
It becomes just a living, itbecomes what you love to do, and
so I think that's for me whatwork hard, play hard means Blend
them together.
You know, have fun with yourstaff, have fun with everybody,
(02:45):
have fun with a lot.
We're helping our patients dealwith a lot, but how do we have
fun doing that?
And that's what Craig does.
Tom Carr (02:51):
Thanks, joe, I love that and I would add the same
thing and we talk a loteverywhere in society today
about balance between work andlife and I really do think here
at Craig it is much moreintegration.
I just came from lunch with mystaff in the therapeutic
recreation department I had toexcuse myself a little early.
It was just, I mean, hilarity,just fun laughing, sharing, you
(03:16):
know, just pieces of our livesand then sharing those with
patients and in that way it'sjust a very unique and fun
environment.
Jandel Allen-Davis (03:20):
Yeah, I just love that we and I love what
you said back to the Montessorithing that work is.
Just love that.
We and I love what you saidback to the Montessori thing
that work is play, that we don'treally distinguish them, that
it is most beautifullyrepresented at work through the
integration of the two and notviewing them as separate.
And also, it's interesting youuse the phrase work and life
balance.
I think work is life, right,that's right, it's all part of
it.
And I think that idea of notusing or viewing how we show up
(03:43):
at work somehow they'redifferent than we show up at
home or anywhere else Absolutelyit's the beauty of this place
and it's what folks notice whenthey come in is your staff, the
teams are always so happy, it'slike because work and play go
together and we do work and playhard.
Well, with that, by way of justsome sort of introductory sorts
of ways of how we think aboutit, how about some examples of
(04:04):
some of the things that we dohere?
And one that comes to mindright away is we are some
competitive folk, so what doesthat look like in the?
Into the spirit of fun?
Joe Fangman (04:13):
I think it comes, you know, to friendly
competition.
We're competitive folks, butit's friendly you know, never
trying to put anybody down, butfriendly competitions.
I think that helps helps.
I think that helps with ourpatients, it helps with our
staff.
You know, in PT we do Minute toWin it games.
If you've ever watched GuyFereno does Minute to Win it,
you know I'll come up withMinute to Win it games.
And we have aninterdepartmental competition
and it's funny to watch stafflaugh for leaders to make fools
(04:36):
of themselves a little bit whenwe're having these competitions
and just to let loose and havefun.
We do it usually twice a year.
We'll do it around the holidaysand then we'll do it a little
OT month and PT month.
The fourth floor PTs take onthe fourth floor OTs.
Jandel Allen-Davis (04:48):
There we go For a little bragging rights,
there we go, but it is.
Joe Fangman (04:50):
It's friendly competition, but everyone loves
it.
Jandel Allen-Davis (04:53):
How about you, Tom?
Well, first.
Tom Carr (04:59):
I'll have to share, and you guys can't see, it's
important both in thetherapeutic recreation field and
in all aspects of what we dohere at Craig, as Joe was just
talking about, both with staffto staff, staff to with patients
, staff with families.
It's, it really is ineverything we do.
So I was getting prepared tocome up here and getting my
water ready and all the rest ofit, and I was like, well, I have
to be able to bring a game.
(05:19):
There's gotta be a game.
So if you could see, in frontof us there's a tiny little
thumb basketball game that wehave here, and before I started
we gave it a, we gave it a shotand right now, just so everyone
knows, Joe and I are tied at oneand Jandell is currently at
zero but there's plenty of timehere.
Jandel Allen-Davis (05:34):
We will come back to this.
I think it'll still be zero bythe end of this Second Cause.
I you know it's like gettingthat right English on it and I
kind of really don't have theright English.
For sure, that's for sure.
What about, like wheelchairraces?
Tell me about those.
Joe Fangman (05:47):
I think this is where it comes with patience, so
patience like to have fun tooin friendly competitions.
In Wheeler's class that happenson Tuesdays and Thursdays.
You know the patients competeagainst themselves.
All of our patients havedifferent abilities.
So when we do some competitionsit's about are you getting
better?
Each week and they love to sayhey, what did I get on the 23
meter push last week?
And then at the end of the hourthey race me A little line
(06:08):
drill where you push forward andthen you push back.
Push forward, push back.
I do in a wheelie.
If they beat me I buy themsomething in the gift shop for
250 or less.
Jandel Allen-Davis (06:16):
First time I did it no-transcript.
Joe Fangman (06:27):
Anybody that's ever beat me since 2016 signs a
t-shirt that hangs by my deskwhen they come back for their
re-eval.
They ask is that t-shirt stillhere?
And they want to see it andit's just cool, and it's cool
for me to look at and pull it.
Oh my gosh, this person beatyou back in 2016.
I'm here at 2023, you know lastyear.
Jandel Allen-Davis (06:45):
That's so cool, so that's exciting.
You know where my office is, asyou both know.
I sit on the first floor andget this opportunity to look out
the window, not often becauseit's crazy around here, but when
I can look out and bedistracted just a bit by what's
going on outside of thattherapeutic recreation area and
you guys are trying newequipment.
Talk about that because thatlooks fun.
(07:05):
There are days I want to sneakout and I have on occasion.
Tom Carr (07:08):
Anytime you know and that's absolutely true, both
from the experiential aspect ofit of having therapists and
people who work here Craig ableto speak what it is like to try
one of these activities orpieces of equipment.
But we as a staff, like Joe wassaying, a couple of times a year
try to get off site, spend sometime together, both doing some
work and planning, as well asthen doing those things that are
(07:31):
either patients ask orexperience or what is just
popular.
I made a list of, just over thelast couple of years, some of
the things we've done as a staffbecause, like take me, for
example, I'm not a fly fisher.
I had never done it.
Our patients are veryinterested in that, so going out
one day, learning from expertson how to do that, allows you to
then think about adapting thatin a much different way.
(07:51):
At that, golf hiking, biking wewent up and did hand controlled
cart racing up in Denver andthings and just really a chance
Again, learning for us.
Yes, super fun just to be agroup together, goofy, and
things that we're not I mean, atleast speaking for myself, that
I am not good at, but reallyjust getting a greater
appreciation for and just havingsome fun.
(08:12):
It was a great sharedexperience, all of them.
Jandel Allen-Davis (08:14):
And not only .
It seems like saying that thatnot only are you having fun, but
it gives you a different anddeeper sense of empathy, right?
Tom Carr (08:21):
Sure.
Jandel Allen-Davis (08:22):
You know.
Another way, though, that wework hard and play hard is I've
never seen a place have more funwith some of the big events,
whether it's around the holidaysor others, and talk a little
bit about Halloween, which islike everybody.
You say to them Halloween atCraig, and just these smiles and
head nods.
You've never seen anything likeit.
Tom Carr (08:43):
You can say this holiday is a big deal at X place
, but Halloween at Craig is awhole thing.
Jandel Allen-Davis (08:48):
Like nothing .
Tom Carr (08:48):
you've ever seen folks you start planning for it
pretty much the day after theyear before by taking a little
idea from somebody else ortalking with a patient about an
idea they had, and it takes 11months to get ready for that
again.
And I also love, I mean, on topof that, that is fun.
But then working and watchingour patients come up with ideas
and costumes of their own andtheir families, it's just
(09:10):
impossible.
It's such a visual all aspectsof it, from a haunted house
downstairs to a themed lunchthat we have to you know the
winners at the end of the day.
It's fabulous.
Jandel Allen-Davis (09:21):
A lot of fun .
A lot of fun, and I never haveseen it.
I remember my first year hereand on my schedule it said
Halloween and it started at oneo'clock and it ended at three,
and I walked around with my jawdropped but smiling at the same
time.
When I got back to my office Iwent what was that?
Was that crazy?
Tom Carr (09:40):
I always think I'm like I wonder what happens to
the patient and family thatadmits that day.
Joe Fangman (09:44):
I've had one.
I had one where I had to do amean greet first day, all
dressed up and hey, welcome toCraig.
Sorry, you need to be here,we're going to take really good
care of you and you're going tobe here on the best day.
Tom Carr (09:52):
That's right.
What were you dressed as?
Joe Fangman (09:53):
that day.
That day, I think we were ToyStory, so I was Buzz Lightyear
that day.
You know, welcome to Craig,that's where you're here.
You know we're a family, wehave fun, so yeah.
Tom Carr (10:07):
In a couple of days.
This is going to make a lot ofsense.
Joe Fangman (10:08):
It'll make a lot of sense once you get down to the
gym and get to meet us.
You'll know what we're doing.
Jandel Allen-Davis (10:17):
Well, more importantly interestingly, we're
going to come back to that interms of what that sets as the
tone for our do.
You know, we get into the wholephysical part of competition
too the trike races, so I don'tknow how to describe it.
Other than what it is.
Tom Carr (10:30):
It evolved very organically of one day having
these giant big wheels forpeople of a certain age who know
what a big wheel is and we hada you know, relatively new
entrance to our hospital with acircle drive and just as play
organically happens, it was likeI don't know who looked at who
first and it was like well, Ibet you I can go around that
(10:52):
faster than you can, and so justkind of played around the first
day and somebody wasn't me waslike you know this would be this
has got staff races written allover it.
Got staff races written allover it.
And next thing you know it wastrike races with.
I think maybe we had fourgroups who got together over
(11:12):
lunch one year probably.
Oh, gosh, we're probably gettingclose to 10 years ago, wow
Raced around and had a littlefun and laughed and I think last
year we had 26 teams sign upfor trike races from again all
around the hospital.
It is one of my joys of theabsolute year.
It is pure laughter and fun anda golden trike, of course.
Currently living downstairs inthe basement of the East
(11:33):
Building here with our DMEclinic.
Jandel Allen-Davis (11:35):
DME, that's right.
Tom Carr (11:37):
And their excitement of winning and dethroning a
certain PT department.
Jandel Allen-Davis (11:41):
Yes, a certain PT department.
Joe Fangman (11:42):
It's not all about the trike.
It's also about the braggingrights amongst each other.
Jandel Allen-Davis (11:45):
Hey where's the trike?
Joe Fangman (11:46):
Yeah, yeah yeah, you know Buffy in the peak, she
would leave it up there and hungit up where everybody could see
it as you walked in.
Jandel Allen-Davis (11:51):
It was just that's the beauty of it.
And then there was the year.
Tom Carr (11:58):
So we got together and we had the great trike caper
and you helped us, tom Poorlyyes, I've learned that, showing
up to work in the morning beinglike I didn't steal it last
night, I'll just go take it now.
This also speaks to our staff,because they were there early.
They actually watched him takeit.
Yeah, I was like guys, I'mgoing to have to borrow this.
Jandel Allen-Davis (12:20):
And then we had a scavenger hunt to get it
back, and when they figured outthe PT4 team, that always seems
to win.
Always were up there, came downand when they got to the final
place, there we were and servedthem lunch.
So we did do a nice thing butwe totally stole the trike and
it's fun.
I got to tell you as a CEO whoI just think that fun and joy
(12:43):
and just create such a relaxingenvironment the fact that I said
I want to steal the trike and Iwas brand new.
I said I think you can do thathere and we can it just speaks
volumes about what a wonderfulculture that's been created over
many years.
Well, I think an important partof that culture is this second
session, and actually I touredsomebody just today and there
(13:03):
were a couple of times I usedone of my other favorite phrases
about how we best integratelots of things, but in this case
we're talking about this notionof creativity and fun and play.
This notion of creativity andfun and play, and that is, we
slip the spinach into thelasagna, whether it's how we use
(13:24):
our adaptive kitchens upstairsfrom you're going to go to the
store and we're going to, youare going to make your way
through the store and buy theingredients to prepare a meal
and then come back and do it.
That's literally andfiguratively slipping therapy or
spinach into lasagna, or ourpeak, or even these trike races,
and so this is really about howand what is the importance of
fun and play in terms of thetherapeutic process.
(13:46):
So would just love to have youguys talk a little bit about the
role of play in terms oftherapy.
Joe Fangman (13:54):
I think for me.
You know it says PT on my badge.
But at heart, at my heart, I'vealways told Tom and his staff
this I'm a rec therapist, causethat's where the real things
happen.
The magic happens outside thesewalls of.
Craig.
So how do we get that spinachmixed in the lasagna?
So for me to work on transferson the mat, it's great.
I love to see progress there,that over with a patient to
(14:19):
getting onto a hand cycle, itbecomes real.
And that's rehabilitation hasto be real for them, for them to
be vested, and so when I can dothat with the rec therapist and
do a co-treat and then to see asmile on that patient's face
that I just got on a bike andfour weeks ago I didn't think
I'd be able to do anything.
Tom Carr (14:28):
So I think that's how you slip it in and you have fun
doing it and I talk about this alot with when patients come to
Craig for the first time isoftentimes come from another
facility and this is all new andreally what they've heard
before they arrive here at Craigare all the things that they
cannot do or that are going tobe difficult or different, and
when they arrive at Craig we do.
(14:49):
We flip that on its head andwhether that's to start asking
the question, like Joe wassaying, is you know we're doing
therapy, for what reason?
You know you're a parent.
What are you doing with yourchildren?
What is that thing?
What do you guys want to dotogether?
Exploring that and finding outplay, activity, whatever it
might be, and then making surethat we're doing it.
Jandel Allen-Davis (15:09):
How does play here differ from what
you've seen other places andwhat do you think its impact on
clinical outcomes and clinicalplaces and what do you think its
impact on clinical outcomes andand clinical meaning both mind,
body and spirit.
Joe Fangman (15:23):
I think for me.
I've been blessed two jobs andI've been able to play both of
them, and when I was looking fora new job in 2011,.
That's why I came to Craig.
You know, when I talked tocolleagues around the country
and different organizations I'mpart of, it's sometimes plays
missing.
You know, rec therapy is one ofthose ventures that does not
get funded by insurance.
So a lot of facilities that'sone of the first things that's
cut and as a PT, like I justsaid, outside these walls is
(15:43):
where therapy happens.
So how do we do that if wedon't have rec therapy?
That would take a lot more onme to get out of these walls and
I don't have that expertise.
So sometimes that's where,again, having that rec therapy
staff and be able to collaboratewith them, that's another part
that I think makes Craig great.
Tom Carr (16:00):
I've been very fortunate as well to work in a
very few places.
The place I came to beforeCraig was also a wonderful
community organization.
Working with Kind of would bethe next step for our patients
when they left here Craig.
So play was integral there.
But have also worked placesmore on the commercial side of
things, even commercialrecreation side of things, where
that was our product and wequite honestly least
(16:24):
participated in it.
It was a thing, not a part ofwhat we did, if that makes sense
.
And that's the difference inCraig.
The fun is it's not what we doalone but it is so built into
every aspect of what we do thatit's kind of inseparable that
way.
Jandel Allen-Davis (16:40):
Well, the last thing I really wanted to
talk about, as we think aboutthis and it really is at the
heart of it why this podcaststarted around Unstoppable at
Craig was really about greatcultures do have, and are
reliant on, strong leadership atall the levels.
That leadership happens in aplace and it certainly is no
different here and it does startat the top.
(17:02):
I mean just we as leaders haveto have the willingness to be
vulnerable but also not feel asif, oh well, that's for somebody
else, that's for them to do.
We've provided this opportunityfor our staff have fun with it,
but that we get into it as well.
I just love for you to talkabout the connection between
play and vulnerability and howit shows up in your leadership.
Tom Carr (17:25):
Yeah, play in my leadership.
Let me clarify something I saidearlier.
When I said that we, in termsof therapeutic recreation, have
won the Halloween the lastcouple of years, I did not say I
won the Halloween the lastcouple of years.
I did not say I there is, I'mhappy to be a part of this
activity and by no means came upwith the idea or, honestly, the
part that makes it work, causethat's that's the staff there.
(17:46):
They're not only fun, creative,innovative, all of those things
.
I don't have to, I don't haveto be the one who comes up with
the good ideas.
I would have never come up withthat idea.
If you can't laugh at yourself,you just can't take yourself
too seriously.
And that allows, I think, otherstaff to take the lead and be
creative and get it right andteach me something too, and I'm
(18:08):
totally fine with that, even ifit means I'm a giraffe in a
video game on Halloween.
That was really cute.
Jandel Allen-Davis (18:14):
It was fun to shoot at you.
Tom Carr (18:15):
I totally missed.
Jandel Allen-Davis (18:17):
I game at Halloween.
It was really cute.
It was fun to shoot at you.
I totally missed.
Can you talk about a time whereyou felt challenged in play,
something that was set up forwork that you know really did
force you to be vulnerable andhave to, and what was what
happened and what was theoutcome?
Joe Fangman (18:30):
I think vulnerable and challenges even the men at
winning games.
You know, are they going toenjoy this.
Jandel Allen-Davis (18:35):
I'm the one that says are the staff going to
?
Joe Fangman (18:37):
have fun at this and then, when you put all the
work into it, spend Saturdayswatching YouTube and trying to
figure out what these littlecompetitions are you're going to
do, and then you bring it inand people come to you
afterwards and say that was somuch fun.
I think that's vulnerability.
I think the beauty too, of Craigis we're given the space to
have fun.
You know from you, Jandel,knowing that you'll be involved
(18:59):
in the trike races to mydirector, the permission's there
to have fun, and I think that'sanother difference that makes
Craig great.
I've been blessed as a PT tohave two great jobs where I have
fun, but I've had other jobswhere fun was not encouraged, it
was get the job done, workwhile you're there, then go play
hard later.
Here we blend the two togetherwe work hard and we play hard,
and you can blend them togetherand get things done and have fun
(19:21):
.
Jandel Allen-Davis (19:21):
I love that.
You the way you answer thequestion about the vulnerability
there's, the, you know, makinga fool of myself, although
seriously, I just want you guysto know I do hold back in the
trike races because it wouldreally look bad for the CEO to
win it's only fair you know it'sonly fair to let you all win.
I could smoke them all.
You got to just sort of holdback.
(19:41):
But I love the way you answeredthe question, because what you
said was and I feel that sameway when I'm doing we've got a
big thing coming up this weekthat my fingerprints are all
over and I go, oh, they're goingto hate it, Are they going to
(20:02):
like it?
But we have to risk evenbringing that in and nothing
feels better than watching us doit and watch people engage in
it and going, oh, they reallyliked it.
It wasn't a dumb idea, Cause Ithink I have about 99 dumb ones
that is ideas a day.
So I love the way you answeredit in terms of vulnerability.
It's not just about me being ona trike and spinning out around
that circle, which is totallyfun, by the way.
Tom Carr (20:18):
Tricky turn three.
Everybody Watch out.
Jandel Allen-Davis (20:20):
Gosh, that's a killer turn.
So what about you?
Tom Carr (20:22):
Yeah, for sure.
And again.
And not to think that every dayis trike races at Craig.
Jandel Allen-Davis (20:26):
It isn't.
Tom Carr (20:27):
But, with that said, that to me is also, that was a
staff driven.
That was not me.
I didn't know that the trikeswere coming.
I didn't.
I'll absolutely jump in andrace.
That sounds great to me, but itwas not my idea.
It was hey, I got this friendwho wants to show us these
things.
The next thing I know we'reriding around in the parking lot
.
That's.
That's just taking a chance ofbeing like I don't know, let's
(20:47):
try it, I don't know.
Jandel Allen-Davis (20:48):
But it builds.
What's it build?
This sort of sense of bringingplay in this way it builds
culture.
Joe Fangman (20:53):
To me, that's the number one word is it brings
culture to Craig, and that's aculture that we've had for years
.
You know and you hear aboutstories from way back when some
of the things you can't doanymore because we have to be
safe and thank goodness we can'tdo them sometimes, but it's
been a culture that's been herefor as long as you know much
longer than all of us, muchlonger than all of us, for sure.
(21:14):
So I think, that's what thatbrings.
That's what play brings is itcontinues that culture and how
do we maintain that culture?
And then I think we startedthis out about burnout.
I think this play helps reduceburnout of our staff.
We have tough jobs and dayssometimes get long, but if we
integrate a little bit of play,I think the risk of burnout is
diminished some.
And so then, just listening toour staff, then to listen to
(21:42):
them, like you said, tom,they'll come up and they'll tell
you what's fun, and we then, asleaders, encourage them to have
some fun to keep that day going.
Tom Carr (21:45):
So I think that's the secret.
Sometimes I will very activelyplan an activity or something
for staff or a patient sessionor an outing very actively, and
other times it's just making thespace for it to happen
organically, maybe having thetools and stuff, bringing a
silly game to a podcast, like Idid today, or just having those
things available.
But knowing that we live in astructured world and people who
(22:08):
are busy and therapy's busy andthings are busy and we have to
get certain things done, andthat's what life seems like and
feels like sometimes.
So to build in time, to slowdown for a second and just be
like okay, you know we're goingto be in this moment.
What are we going to do?
It's that creativity, that's thejoy that I see when it's not a
laid out activity with laid outrules.
(22:29):
That's why I love some of thewheeler classes and things like
that, because the games andstuff that are played there are
not necessarily wheelchairbasketball or a specific.
It's just something that'sdeveloped and is organic and is
creative and we're trying toaccomplish some stuff, sure, but
at the same time we just havesome time together.
What are we going to do, andplay comes out of that naturally
in my experience.
Joe Fangman (22:51):
I think leadership at Craig doesn't control.
Tom Carr (22:53):
I think that's the difference too.
Joe Fangman (22:55):
I mean they allow us some autonomy.
I schedule my own patients, Iplan my own days for my patients
.
The same thing comes to play.
We give our staff and patientsroom to play and plan their own
play, without someone telling usfrom top down, and it's all
voluntary, you don't have toparticipate in the trike race,
you don't have to participate inHalloween, but because it's so
(23:15):
fun, most folks want toparticipate.
So I think that's what we do.
We allow some autonomy to kindof grow and let people not be
stagnant that you have to getABC done.
You can pause between B and Cand say, hey, let's, let's break
this up a little bit.
It's April fools, let's pull aprank on OT.
You know it's more OT pullingpranks on us, but we retaliate.
(23:35):
It's more OT pulling the printsthan us, but we retaliate.
Jandel Allen-Davis (23:38):
That's what it is.
It's given that time.
Joe Fangman (23:40):
It's healthy competition.
Yeah, not retaliation, it'shealthy competition.
Jandel Allen-Davis (23:43):
Healthy retaliation.
Healthy retaliation.
Joe Fangman (23:45):
You set the timers in the office to go off every
five minutes all day long.
Jandel Allen-Davis (23:50):
And I want you all to know that it gosh.
It's almost like do you reallywant to say this out loud?
Yeah, I do.
It may be more distractions youunderstand that, right, jandell
?
Yes, I do, but I love that youall engage me, and I think
that's another thing that Ireally would you know to whoever
takes the time to listen tothis as leaders and by great
(24:11):
leaders we're not just talkingCEOs, we're talking about the
two of you, for sure, and thecountless other supervisors and
managers and directors and VPsthat are out there.
But that I get to be and that'sthe way I think about it part
of the fun makes work just asgreat for me.
And the really cool thing thatyou said on that point, joe, is
(24:31):
this idea that we actually youknow you don't have this
top-down, hierarchical,buttoned-up sort of leadership
style or management style here.
And Daniel Pink, who wrote agreat book on innovation and
creativity called A Whole NewMind, one of my favorite books,
said that control leads tocompliance and autonomy leads to
(24:53):
engagement.
You know we've talked aboutthis through the lens of the
special work that happens here,but all of what you've talked
about can happen in anyworkplace, every workplace.
But what do you think are someof the guidelines or things
you'd say to other leaders,whether in healthcare or out of
healthcare, that are reallyuniversals if you're gonna do
(25:14):
this kind of work and Ishouldn't say if, I should say
when, because I hope more peoplejust let their hair down and
just bring that whole person whoyou are outside of work into
work.
It's amazing how it transformscultures, to use the word you
use.
But what are some of the thingsyou would say to leaders?
Tom Carr (25:33):
Well and again, on a very basic level and just
speaking for myself, it's is youcan't take yourself too
seriously, you cannot.
If you do, that's what you willget reflected back at you.
So you know, if you're have aserious front and this is
business and let's get it donethat's what you'll see from the
people who work with and for youif that's how you lead.
So, yeah, I would say, if youdon't take yourself too
(25:54):
seriously and allow yourself tobe, to make a mistake and do
something silly, and then folkswill know that it's okay and
that you can do those things andshould do those things as well.
That's probably my first one.
Someone I worked for prior tocoming to Craig used to do was
engage all the way as early asthe hiring process, and I
(26:15):
remember she used to, when wewould interview people much like
this silly basketball game Ihave in front of us here would
leave on the table during aninterview different article
cards or things like that, justto see if an applicant would
engage with them, would pickthem up and put the puzzle
together or play with somethingwhile they were answering
(26:37):
questions never addressed in anyway other than just here's
things that are out there.
That tells you a lot aboutfolks too, of being like I don't
have to be so buttoned up thatI can't play with this thing.
That's right there and honestly, it might be a nice distraction
and it might actually relax alittle bit.
I'm'm more myself and it was.
It was very intentional why shedid that and really taught.
(27:00):
You knew if someone was goingto fit right away.
You know just by how theyplayed during that very, very
early you know meeting.
Joe Fangman (27:07):
So yeah, I think you know, lead by example.
Like Tom said, don't be afraidto try yourself and have some
fun yourself, cause if yourstaff see you do that, they'll
follow you.
You know they'll follow thatexample.
You set the hey, we can havesome fun at work.
So I think, lead by example,come up with ideas and then ask
for their ideas.
What can we do to have fun atwork and just give them
(27:27):
permission to give you thoseideas?
So I think that's important.
Tom Carr (27:31):
I love it when staff come in.
They're like okay.
And I have many who ready.
Jandel Allen-Davis (27:35):
It starts with okay, as long as it doesn't
start with I'm sorry.
Tom Carr (27:39):
No, it's like it usually starts with okay, I have
this idea, and usually it's Ihave this crazy idea.
And we've at least grown to thepoint where we don't say crazy
anymore, it's just an idea and Igo.
It goes back to what we startedthis thing, this, this
discussion with is if the answeris it's safe and it can be
(27:59):
successful, chances are we'regoing to say yes to that crazy
may be sounding idea and let'sgo.
Let's go, let's see whathappens.
Jandel Allen-Davis (28:05):
You know, it's really amazing about what
you all said.
I was thinking I wonder whatpeople who listen to this will
think for those who, for whomwork is just suffocating, just
know that there are really coolplaces out there that are, you
know that that allow this, andnot only allow it, but enable it
and expect it.
(28:26):
You may think we've laughed awhole lot in this hour that we
don't have a serious side, but,as I said, play is work and
we've got the outcomes from apatient perspective, from an
employee satisfactionperspective, from a quality, a
financial you name it a safetyperspective, to show that this
is an important ingredient.
It's not the only ingredient.
(28:46):
Every day is not a beautiful dayfor our patients.
Every day is not necessarily abeautiful day for us, but for
the most part, the right alchemyof a great mission
purpose-driven people who aregiven the autonomy to do what is
right within the skill set thatthey have and bring that to
bear, not just in the care ofthe patients, but for those of
(29:09):
us as leaders, in the care ofthose we serve, our team members
.
It's unique and it's specialand it's not impossible to do
Well.
Thank you all for the timetoday.
This was just too much fun.
Tom Carr (29:21):
Thank you.
Jandel Allen-Davis (29:25):
So we just got to spend some time with Tom
Carr and Joe Fangman, twoleaders at Craig, talking about
the importance of play, and itwas in listening to them that I
realized that these threepillars of working hard and
playing hard which is all aboutintegrating and recognizing the
value of humor and fun and playas part of great work
(29:48):
environments that aretransferable, those are all
skills that are transferable andapplicable to all of our
workplaces and can show up more.
All of that is wrapped up inthis bow called.
It starts at the top.
You know how we leverage play,both in our personal lives and
how we bring it into theworkplace, and what we enable,
(30:08):
what we unleash from theperspective of creativity and
innovation, what showing our ownvulnerability by you know.
In the case of me, I'll doanything around here, us as
leaders, showing up and beingpart of the team that way and
being willing to be vulnerable,less buttoned up, have fun
enables and allows others tobring their whole selves into
(30:31):
work as well, and so I really doencourage those of you who
might be listening to considerthe importance of workplaces
that have a healthy dose ofmirth, humor, play and fun as
part of the very same coin thatdoes have the sort of serious
(30:54):
part of things, and in fact evenin those at least the way this
leader myself, how I choose tolead, even when we're talking
about those topics, trust me,there's plenty of laughter at
different points, both used in adisarming way, but typically in
a way that just allows everyoneto relax and not take either
(31:14):
themselves so seriously, thework so seriously.
Astonishingly, both then getthe serious attention that they
need.
So thank you for listening.
Welcome to Unstoppable at Craig, where we
pull back the curtain on whatmakes healthy workplace cultures
click and what happens whenpeople are empowered to expand
the boundaries of what ispossible.
We'll explore the perspectivesof employees and leaders who
have carte blanche to speaktheir truths, tell their stories
and unlock uncommon ways ofapproaching challenges.
I'm Dr Jandell Allen Davis, ceoand president of Craig Hospital
(00:27):
, a world-renownedrehabilitation hospital that
exclusively specializes in theneurorehabilitation and research
of patients with spinal cordand brain injury.
Join me as we learn from peoplewho love what they do and what
happens when fear doesn't stifleinnovation.
I have so been looking forwardto the opportunity to do this
(00:49):
particular segment ofUnstoppable at Craig, and really
the theme is about theimportance of play at work.
You know just that whole ideaof what does mirth and fun do in
the workplace, and in fact,research has shown that play
boosts productivity, it bringshigher creativity and it creates
(01:09):
a stronger sense of hope andhumor and, heaven knows, we have
a lot of both of those here atCraig.
When my son was a tiny guy he'snow 33, but he went to
Montessori and they called playwork there.
So I love that.
I always remember this wholenotion of play as work or play
is work.
Jolene Godfrey said all workand no play doesn't just make
(01:31):
Jack and Jill dull, it kills thepotential of discovery, mastery
and openness to change andflexibility, and it hinders
innovation and invention.
Can't think of more true wordsthat have been spoken in a long,
long time, and so we're goingto spend some time talking to a
couple of my colleagues at workTom Carr, who is the director of
(01:51):
our recreational or therapeuticrecreation department, and Joe
Fangman, who's a supervisor inphysical therapy, and these are
also not just two greatcolleagues, but even as we were
trying to get geared up to dothis, we've been laughing since
we started, and that's notunusual here at Craig.
It's sort of how we rock androll here.
Let's, though, start with thiswhole idea of we work hard and
(02:12):
play hard.
What does work hard and playhard mean for you when you come
into work for the day?
Joe Fangman (02:17):
Yeah, I think work hard, play hard for me means
they should be indistinguishableyou know if you come to work
and you work hard and you havefun.
They should be indistinguishable.
You know, if you come to work,you work hard and you have fun.
The thing we do for eight and ahalf hours plus a day isn't a
job.
It becomes just a living, itbecomes what you love to do, and
so I think that's for me whatwork hard, play hard means Blend
them together.
You know, have fun with yourstaff, have fun with everybody,
(02:45):
have fun with a lot.
We're helping our patients dealwith a lot, but how do we have
fun doing that?
And that's what Craig does.
Tom Carr (02:51):
Thanks, joe, I love that and I would add the same
thing and we talk a loteverywhere in society today
about balance between work andlife and I really do think here
at Craig it is much moreintegration.
I just came from lunch with mystaff in the therapeutic
recreation department I had toexcuse myself a little early.
It was just, I mean, hilarity,just fun laughing, sharing, you
(03:16):
know, just pieces of our livesand then sharing those with
patients and in that way it'sjust a very unique and fun
environment.
Jandel Allen-Davis (03:20):
Yeah, I just love that we and I love what
you said back to the Montessorithing that work is.
Just love that.
We and I love what you saidback to the Montessori thing
that work is play, that we don'treally distinguish them, that
it is most beautifullyrepresented at work through the
integration of the two and notviewing them as separate.
And also, it's interesting youuse the phrase work and life
balance.
I think work is life, right,that's right, it's all part of
it.
And I think that idea of notusing or viewing how we show up
(03:43):
at work somehow they'redifferent than we show up at
home or anywhere else Absolutelyit's the beauty of this place
and it's what folks notice whenthey come in is your staff, the
teams are always so happy, it'slike because work and play go
together and we do work and playhard.
Well, with that, by way of justsome sort of introductory sorts
of ways of how we think aboutit, how about some examples of
(04:04):
some of the things that we dohere?
And one that comes to mindright away is we are some
competitive folk, so what doesthat look like in the?
Into the spirit of fun?
Joe Fangman (04:13):
I think it comes, you know, to friendly
competition.
We're competitive folks, butit's friendly you know, never
trying to put anybody down, butfriendly competitions.
I think that helps helps.
I think that helps with ourpatients, it helps with our
staff.
You know, in PT we do Minute toWin it games.
If you've ever watched GuyFereno does Minute to Win it,
you know I'll come up withMinute to Win it games.
And we have aninterdepartmental competition
and it's funny to watch stafflaugh for leaders to make fools
(04:36):
of themselves a little bit whenwe're having these competitions
and just to let loose and havefun.
We do it usually twice a year.
We'll do it around the holidaysand then we'll do it a little
OT month and PT month.
The fourth floor PTs take onthe fourth floor OTs.
Jandel Allen-Davis (04:48):
There we go For a little bragging rights,
there we go, but it is.
Joe Fangman (04:50):
It's friendly competition, but everyone loves
it.
Jandel Allen-Davis (04:53):
How about you, Tom?
Well, first.
Tom Carr (04:59):
I'll have to share, and you guys can't see, it's
important both in thetherapeutic recreation field and
in all aspects of what we dohere at Craig, as Joe was just
talking about, both with staffto staff, staff to with patients
, staff with families.
It's, it really is ineverything we do.
So I was getting prepared tocome up here and getting my
water ready and all the rest ofit, and I was like, well, I have
to be able to bring a game.
(05:19):
There's gotta be a game.
So if you could see, in frontof us there's a tiny little
thumb basketball game that wehave here, and before I started
we gave it a, we gave it a shotand right now, just so everyone
knows, Joe and I are tied at oneand Jandell is currently at
zero but there's plenty of timehere.
Jandel Allen-Davis (05:34):
We will come back to this.
I think it'll still be zero bythe end of this Second Cause.
I you know it's like gettingthat right English on it and I
kind of really don't have theright English.
For sure, that's for sure.
What about, like wheelchairraces?
Tell me about those.
Joe Fangman (05:47):
I think this is where it comes with patience, so
patience like to have fun tooin friendly competitions.
In Wheeler's class that happenson Tuesdays and Thursdays.
You know the patients competeagainst themselves.
All of our patients havedifferent abilities.
So when we do some competitionsit's about are you getting
better?
Each week and they love to sayhey, what did I get on the 23
meter push last week?
And then at the end of the hourthey race me A little line
(06:08):
drill where you push forward andthen you push back.
Push forward, push back.
I do in a wheelie.
If they beat me I buy themsomething in the gift shop for
250 or less.
Jandel Allen-Davis (06:16):
First time I did it no-transcript.
Joe Fangman (06:27):
Anybody that's ever beat me since 2016 signs a
t-shirt that hangs by my deskwhen they come back for their
re-eval.
They ask is that t-shirt stillhere?
And they want to see it andit's just cool, and it's cool
for me to look at and pull it.
Oh my gosh, this person beatyou back in 2016.
I'm here at 2023, you know lastyear.
Jandel Allen-Davis (06:45):
That's so cool, so that's exciting.
You know where my office is, asyou both know.
I sit on the first floor andget this opportunity to look out
the window, not often becauseit's crazy around here, but when
I can look out and bedistracted just a bit by what's
going on outside of thattherapeutic recreation area and
you guys are trying newequipment.
Talk about that because thatlooks fun.
(07:05):
There are days I want to sneakout and I have on occasion.
Tom Carr (07:08):
Anytime you know and that's absolutely true, both
from the experiential aspect ofit of having therapists and
people who work here Craig ableto speak what it is like to try
one of these activities orpieces of equipment.
But we as a staff, like Joe wassaying, a couple of times a year
try to get off site, spend sometime together, both doing some
work and planning, as well asthen doing those things that are
(07:31):
either patients ask orexperience or what is just
popular.
I made a list of, just over thelast couple of years, some of
the things we've done as a staffbecause, like take me, for
example, I'm not a fly fisher.
I had never done it.
Our patients are veryinterested in that, so going out
one day, learning from expertson how to do that, allows you to
then think about adapting thatin a much different way.
(07:51):
At that, golf hiking, biking wewent up and did hand controlled
cart racing up in Denver andthings and just really a chance
Again, learning for us.
Yes, super fun just to be agroup together, goofy, and
things that we're not I mean, atleast speaking for myself, that
I am not good at, but reallyjust getting a greater
appreciation for and just havingsome fun.
(08:12):
It was a great sharedexperience, all of them.
Jandel Allen-Davis (08:14):
And not only .
It seems like saying that thatnot only are you having fun, but
it gives you a different anddeeper sense of empathy, right?
Tom Carr (08:21):
Sure.
Jandel Allen-Davis (08:22):
You know.
Another way, though, that wework hard and play hard is I've
never seen a place have more funwith some of the big events,
whether it's around the holidaysor others, and talk a little
bit about Halloween, which islike everybody.
You say to them Halloween atCraig, and just these smiles and
head nods.
You've never seen anything likeit.
Tom Carr (08:43):
You can say this holiday is a big deal at X place
, but Halloween at Craig is awhole thing.
Jandel Allen-Davis (08:48):
Like nothing .
Tom Carr (08:48):
you've ever seen folks you start planning for it
pretty much the day after theyear before by taking a little
idea from somebody else ortalking with a patient about an
idea they had, and it takes 11months to get ready for that
again.
And I also love, I mean, on topof that, that is fun.
But then working and watchingour patients come up with ideas
and costumes of their own andtheir families, it's just
(09:10):
impossible.
It's such a visual all aspectsof it, from a haunted house
downstairs to a themed lunchthat we have to you know the
winners at the end of the day.
It's fabulous.
Jandel Allen-Davis (09:21):
A lot of fun .
A lot of fun, and I never haveseen it.
I remember my first year hereand on my schedule it said
Halloween and it started at oneo'clock and it ended at three,
and I walked around with my jawdropped but smiling at the same
time.
When I got back to my office Iwent what was that?
Was that crazy?
Tom Carr (09:40):
I always think I'm like I wonder what happens to
the patient and family thatadmits that day.
Joe Fangman (09:44):
I've had one.
I had one where I had to do amean greet first day, all
dressed up and hey, welcome toCraig.
Sorry, you need to be here,we're going to take really good
care of you and you're going tobe here on the best day.
Tom Carr (09:52):
That's right.
What were you dressed as?
Joe Fangman (09:53):
that day.
That day, I think we were ToyStory, so I was Buzz Lightyear
that day.
You know, welcome to Craig,that's where you're here.
You know we're a family, wehave fun, so yeah.
Tom Carr (10:07):
In a couple of days.
This is going to make a lot ofsense.
Joe Fangman (10:08):
It'll make a lot of sense once you get down to the
gym and get to meet us.
You'll know what we're doing.
Jandel Allen-Davis (10:17):
Well, more importantly interestingly, we're
going to come back to that interms of what that sets as the
tone for our do.
You know, we get into the wholephysical part of competition
too the trike races, so I don'tknow how to describe it.
Other than what it is.
Tom Carr (10:30):
It evolved very organically of one day having
these giant big wheels forpeople of a certain age who know
what a big wheel is and we hada you know, relatively new
entrance to our hospital with acircle drive and just as play
organically happens, it was likeI don't know who looked at who
first and it was like well, Ibet you I can go around that
(10:52):
faster than you can, and so justkind of played around the first
day and somebody wasn't me waslike you know this would be this
has got staff races written allover it.
Got staff races written allover it.
And next thing you know it wastrike races with.
I think maybe we had fourgroups who got together over
(11:12):
lunch one year probably.
Oh, gosh, we're probably gettingclose to 10 years ago, wow
Raced around and had a littlefun and laughed and I think last
year we had 26 teams sign upfor trike races from again all
around the hospital.
It is one of my joys of theabsolute year.
It is pure laughter and fun anda golden trike, of course.
Currently living downstairs inthe basement of the East
(11:33):
Building here with our DMEclinic.
Jandel Allen-Davis (11:35):
DME, that's right.
Tom Carr (11:37):
And their excitement of winning and dethroning a
certain PT department.
Jandel Allen-Davis (11:41):
Yes, a certain PT department.
Joe Fangman (11:42):
It's not all about the trike.
It's also about the braggingrights amongst each other.
Jandel Allen-Davis (11:45):
Hey where's the trike?
Joe Fangman (11:46):
Yeah, yeah yeah, you know Buffy in the peak, she
would leave it up there and hungit up where everybody could see
it as you walked in.
Jandel Allen-Davis (11:51):
It was just that's the beauty of it.
And then there was the year.
Tom Carr (11:58):
So we got together and we had the great trike caper
and you helped us, tom Poorlyyes, I've learned that, showing
up to work in the morning beinglike I didn't steal it last
night, I'll just go take it now.
This also speaks to our staff,because they were there early.
They actually watched him takeit.
Yeah, I was like guys, I'mgoing to have to borrow this.
Jandel Allen-Davis (12:20):
And then we had a scavenger hunt to get it
back, and when they figured outthe PT4 team, that always seems
to win.
Always were up there, came downand when they got to the final
place, there we were and servedthem lunch.
So we did do a nice thing butwe totally stole the trike and
it's fun.
I got to tell you as a CEO whoI just think that fun and joy
(12:43):
and just create such a relaxingenvironment the fact that I said
I want to steal the trike and Iwas brand new.
I said I think you can do thathere and we can it just speaks
volumes about what a wonderfulculture that's been created over
many years.
Well, I think an important partof that culture is this second
session, and actually I touredsomebody just today and there
(13:03):
were a couple of times I usedone of my other favorite phrases
about how we best integratelots of things, but in this case
we're talking about this notionof creativity and fun and play.
This notion of creativity andfun and play, and that is, we
slip the spinach into thelasagna, whether it's how we use
(13:24):
our adaptive kitchens upstairsfrom you're going to go to the
store and we're going to, youare going to make your way
through the store and buy theingredients to prepare a meal
and then come back and do it.
That's literally andfiguratively slipping therapy or
spinach into lasagna, or ourpeak, or even these trike races,
and so this is really about howand what is the importance of
fun and play in terms of thetherapeutic process.
(13:46):
So would just love to have youguys talk a little bit about the
role of play in terms oftherapy.
Joe Fangman (13:54):
I think for me.
You know it says PT on my badge.
But at heart, at my heart, I'vealways told Tom and his staff
this I'm a rec therapist, causethat's where the real things
happen.
The magic happens outside thesewalls of.
Craig.
So how do we get that spinachmixed in the lasagna?
So for me to work on transferson the mat, it's great.
I love to see progress there,that over with a patient to
(14:19):
getting onto a hand cycle, itbecomes real.
And that's rehabilitation hasto be real for them, for them to
be vested, and so when I can dothat with the rec therapist and
do a co-treat and then to see asmile on that patient's face
that I just got on a bike andfour weeks ago I didn't think
I'd be able to do anything.
Tom Carr (14:28):
So I think that's how you slip it in and you have fun
doing it and I talk about this alot with when patients come to
Craig for the first time isoftentimes come from another
facility and this is all new andreally what they've heard
before they arrive here at Craigare all the things that they
cannot do or that are going tobe difficult or different, and
when they arrive at Craig we do.
(14:49):
We flip that on its head andwhether that's to start asking
the question, like Joe wassaying, is you know we're doing
therapy, for what reason?
You know you're a parent.
What are you doing with yourchildren?
What is that thing?
What do you guys want to dotogether?
Exploring that and finding outplay, activity, whatever it
might be, and then making surethat we're doing it.
Jandel Allen-Davis (15:09):
How does play here differ from what
you've seen other places andwhat do you think its impact on
clinical outcomes and clinicalplaces and what do you think its
impact on clinical outcomes andand clinical meaning both mind,
body and spirit.
Joe Fangman (15:23):
I think for me.
I've been blessed two jobs andI've been able to play both of
them, and when I was looking fora new job in 2011,.
That's why I came to Craig.
You know, when I talked tocolleagues around the country
and different organizations I'mpart of, it's sometimes plays
missing.
You know, rec therapy is one ofthose ventures that does not
get funded by insurance.
So a lot of facilities that'sone of the first things that's
cut and as a PT, like I justsaid, outside these walls is
(15:43):
where therapy happens.
So how do we do that if wedon't have rec therapy?
That would take a lot more onme to get out of these walls and
I don't have that expertise.
So sometimes that's where,again, having that rec therapy
staff and be able to collaboratewith them, that's another part
that I think makes Craig great.
Tom Carr (16:00):
I've been very fortunate as well to work in a
very few places.
The place I came to beforeCraig was also a wonderful
community organization.
Working with Kind of would bethe next step for our patients
when they left here Craig.
So play was integral there.
But have also worked placesmore on the commercial side of
things, even commercialrecreation side of things, where
that was our product and wequite honestly least
(16:24):
participated in it.
It was a thing, not a part ofwhat we did, if that makes sense
.
And that's the difference inCraig.
The fun is it's not what we doalone but it is so built into
every aspect of what we do thatit's kind of inseparable that
way.
Jandel Allen-Davis (16:40):
Well, the last thing I really wanted to
talk about, as we think aboutthis and it really is at the
heart of it why this podcaststarted around Unstoppable at
Craig was really about greatcultures do have, and are
reliant on, strong leadership atall the levels.
That leadership happens in aplace and it certainly is no
different here and it does startat the top.
(17:02):
I mean just we as leaders haveto have the willingness to be
vulnerable but also not feel asif, oh well, that's for somebody
else, that's for them to do.
We've provided this opportunityfor our staff have fun with it,
but that we get into it as well.
I just love for you to talkabout the connection between
play and vulnerability and howit shows up in your leadership.
Tom Carr (17:25):
Yeah, play in my leadership.
Let me clarify something I saidearlier.
When I said that we, in termsof therapeutic recreation, have
won the Halloween the lastcouple of years, I did not say I
won the Halloween the lastcouple of years.
I did not say I there is, I'mhappy to be a part of this
activity and by no means came upwith the idea or, honestly, the
part that makes it work, causethat's that's the staff there.
(17:46):
They're not only fun, creative,innovative, all of those things
.
I don't have to, I don't haveto be the one who comes up with
the good ideas.
I would have never come up withthat idea.
If you can't laugh at yourself,you just can't take yourself
too seriously.
And that allows, I think, otherstaff to take the lead and be
creative and get it right andteach me something too, and I'm
(18:08):
totally fine with that, even ifit means I'm a giraffe in a
video game on Halloween.
That was really cute.
Jandel Allen-Davis (18:14):
It was fun to shoot at you.
Tom Carr (18:15):
I totally missed.
Jandel Allen-Davis (18:17):
I game at Halloween.
It was really cute.
It was fun to shoot at you.
I totally missed.
Can you talk about a time whereyou felt challenged in play,
something that was set up forwork that you know really did
force you to be vulnerable andhave to, and what was what
happened and what was theoutcome?
Joe Fangman (18:30):
I think vulnerable and challenges even the men at
winning games.
You know, are they going toenjoy this.
Jandel Allen-Davis (18:35):
I'm the one that says are the staff going to
?
Joe Fangman (18:37):
have fun at this and then, when you put all the
work into it, spend Saturdayswatching YouTube and trying to
figure out what these littlecompetitions are you're going to
do, and then you bring it inand people come to you
afterwards and say that was somuch fun.
I think that's vulnerability.
I think the beauty too, of Craigis we're given the space to
have fun.
You know from you, Jandel,knowing that you'll be involved
(18:59):
in the trike races to mydirector, the permission's there
to have fun, and I think that'sanother difference that makes
Craig great.
I've been blessed as a PT tohave two great jobs where I have
fun, but I've had other jobswhere fun was not encouraged, it
was get the job done, workwhile you're there, then go play
hard later.
Here we blend the two togetherwe work hard and we play hard,
and you can blend them togetherand get things done and have fun
(19:21):
.
Jandel Allen-Davis (19:21):
I love that.
You the way you answer thequestion about the vulnerability
there's, the, you know, makinga fool of myself, although
seriously, I just want you guysto know I do hold back in the
trike races because it wouldreally look bad for the CEO to
win it's only fair you know it'sonly fair to let you all win.
I could smoke them all.
You got to just sort of holdback.
(19:41):
But I love the way you answeredthe question, because what you
said was and I feel that sameway when I'm doing we've got a
big thing coming up this weekthat my fingerprints are all
over and I go, oh, they're goingto hate it, Are they going to
(20:02):
like it?
But we have to risk evenbringing that in and nothing
feels better than watching us doit and watch people engage in
it and going, oh, they reallyliked it.
It wasn't a dumb idea, Cause Ithink I have about 99 dumb ones
that is ideas a day.
So I love the way you answeredit in terms of vulnerability.
It's not just about me being ona trike and spinning out around
that circle, which is totallyfun, by the way.
Tom Carr (20:18):
Tricky turn three.
Everybody Watch out.
Jandel Allen-Davis (20:20):
Gosh, that's a killer turn.
So what about you?
Tom Carr (20:22):
Yeah, for sure.
And again.
And not to think that every dayis trike races at Craig.
Jandel Allen-Davis (20:26):
It isn't.
Tom Carr (20:27):
But, with that said, that to me is also, that was a
staff driven.
That was not me.
I didn't know that the trikeswere coming.
I didn't.
I'll absolutely jump in andrace.
That sounds great to me, but itwas not my idea.
It was hey, I got this friendwho wants to show us these
things.
The next thing I know we'reriding around in the parking lot
.
That's.
That's just taking a chance ofbeing like I don't know, let's
(20:47):
try it, I don't know.
Jandel Allen-Davis (20:48):
But it builds.
What's it build?
This sort of sense of bringingplay in this way it builds
culture.
Joe Fangman (20:53):
To me, that's the number one word is it brings
culture to Craig, and that's aculture that we've had for years
.
You know and you hear aboutstories from way back when some
of the things you can't doanymore because we have to be
safe and thank goodness we can'tdo them sometimes, but it's
been a culture that's been herefor as long as you know much
longer than all of us, muchlonger than all of us, for sure.
(21:14):
So I think, that's what thatbrings.
That's what play brings is itcontinues that culture and how
do we maintain that culture?
And then I think we startedthis out about burnout.
I think this play helps reduceburnout of our staff.
We have tough jobs and dayssometimes get long, but if we
integrate a little bit of play,I think the risk of burnout is
diminished some.
And so then, just listening toour staff, then to listen to
(21:42):
them, like you said, tom,they'll come up and they'll tell
you what's fun, and we then, asleaders, encourage them to have
some fun to keep that day going.
Tom Carr (21:45):
So I think that's the secret.
Sometimes I will very activelyplan an activity or something
for staff or a patient sessionor an outing very actively, and
other times it's just making thespace for it to happen
organically, maybe having thetools and stuff, bringing a
silly game to a podcast, like Idid today, or just having those
things available.
But knowing that we live in astructured world and people who
(22:08):
are busy and therapy's busy andthings are busy and we have to
get certain things done, andthat's what life seems like and
feels like sometimes.
So to build in time, to slowdown for a second and just be
like okay, you know we're goingto be in this moment.
What are we going to do?
It's that creativity, that's thejoy that I see when it's not a
laid out activity with laid outrules.
(22:29):
That's why I love some of thewheeler classes and things like
that, because the games andstuff that are played there are
not necessarily wheelchairbasketball or a specific.
It's just something that'sdeveloped and is organic and is
creative and we're trying toaccomplish some stuff, sure, but
at the same time we just havesome time together.
What are we going to do, andplay comes out of that naturally
in my experience.
Joe Fangman (22:51):
I think leadership at Craig doesn't control.
Tom Carr (22:53):
I think that's the difference too.
Joe Fangman (22:55):
I mean they allow us some autonomy.
I schedule my own patients, Iplan my own days for my patients
.
The same thing comes to play.
We give our staff and patientsroom to play and plan their own
play, without someone telling usfrom top down, and it's all
voluntary, you don't have toparticipate in the trike race,
you don't have to participate inHalloween, but because it's so
(23:15):
fun, most folks want toparticipate.
So I think that's what we do.
We allow some autonomy to kindof grow and let people not be
stagnant that you have to getABC done.
You can pause between B and Cand say, hey, let's, let's break
this up a little bit.
It's April fools, let's pull aprank on OT.
You know it's more OT pullingpranks on us, but we retaliate.
(23:35):
It's more OT pulling the printsthan us, but we retaliate.
Jandel Allen-Davis (23:38):
That's what it is.
It's given that time.
Joe Fangman (23:40):
It's healthy competition.
Yeah, not retaliation, it'shealthy competition.
Jandel Allen-Davis (23:43):
Healthy retaliation.
Healthy retaliation.
Joe Fangman (23:45):
You set the timers in the office to go off every
five minutes all day long.
Jandel Allen-Davis (23:50):
And I want you all to know that it gosh.
It's almost like do you reallywant to say this out loud?
Yeah, I do.
It may be more distractions youunderstand that, right, jandell
?
Yes, I do, but I love that youall engage me, and I think
that's another thing that Ireally would you know to whoever
takes the time to listen tothis as leaders and by great
(24:11):
leaders we're not just talkingCEOs, we're talking about the
two of you, for sure, and thecountless other supervisors and
managers and directors and VPsthat are out there.
But that I get to be and that'sthe way I think about it part
of the fun makes work just asgreat for me.
And the really cool thing thatyou said on that point, joe, is
(24:31):
this idea that we actually youknow you don't have this
top-down, hierarchical,buttoned-up sort of leadership
style or management style here.
And Daniel Pink, who wrote agreat book on innovation and
creativity called A Whole NewMind, one of my favorite books,
said that control leads tocompliance and autonomy leads to
(24:53):
engagement.
You know we've talked aboutthis through the lens of the
special work that happens here,but all of what you've talked
about can happen in anyworkplace, every workplace.
But what do you think are someof the guidelines or things
you'd say to other leaders,whether in healthcare or out of
healthcare, that are reallyuniversals if you're gonna do
(25:14):
this kind of work and Ishouldn't say if, I should say
when, because I hope more peoplejust let their hair down and
just bring that whole person whoyou are outside of work into
work.
It's amazing how it transformscultures, to use the word you
use.
But what are some of the thingsyou would say to leaders?
Tom Carr (25:33):
Well and again, on a very basic level and just
speaking for myself, it's is youcan't take yourself too
seriously, you cannot.
If you do, that's what you willget reflected back at you.
So you know, if you're have aserious front and this is
business and let's get it donethat's what you'll see from the
people who work with and for youif that's how you lead.
So, yeah, I would say, if youdon't take yourself too
(25:54):
seriously and allow yourself tobe, to make a mistake and do
something silly, and then folkswill know that it's okay and
that you can do those things andshould do those things as well.
That's probably my first one.
Someone I worked for prior tocoming to Craig used to do was
engage all the way as early asthe hiring process, and I
(26:15):
remember she used to, when wewould interview people much like
this silly basketball game Ihave in front of us here would
leave on the table during aninterview different article
cards or things like that, justto see if an applicant would
engage with them, would pickthem up and put the puzzle
together or play with somethingwhile they were answering
(26:37):
questions never addressed in anyway other than just here's
things that are out there.
That tells you a lot aboutfolks too, of being like I don't
have to be so buttoned up thatI can't play with this thing.
That's right there and honestly, it might be a nice distraction
and it might actually relax alittle bit.
I'm'm more myself and it was.
It was very intentional why shedid that and really taught.
(27:00):
You knew if someone was goingto fit right away.
You know just by how theyplayed during that very, very
early you know meeting.
Joe Fangman (27:07):
So yeah, I think you know, lead by example.
Like Tom said, don't be afraidto try yourself and have some
fun yourself, cause if yourstaff see you do that, they'll
follow you.
You know they'll follow thatexample.
You set the hey, we can havesome fun at work.
So I think, lead by example,come up with ideas and then ask
for their ideas.
What can we do to have fun atwork and just give them
(27:27):
permission to give you thoseideas?
So I think that's important.
Tom Carr (27:31):
I love it when staff come in.
They're like okay.
And I have many who ready.
Jandel Allen-Davis (27:35):
It starts with okay, as long as it doesn't
start with I'm sorry.
Tom Carr (27:39):
No, it's like it usually starts with okay, I have
this idea, and usually it's Ihave this crazy idea.
And we've at least grown to thepoint where we don't say crazy
anymore, it's just an idea and Igo.
It goes back to what we startedthis thing, this, this
discussion with is if the answeris it's safe and it can be
(27:59):
successful, chances are we'regoing to say yes to that crazy
may be sounding idea and let'sgo.
Let's go, let's see whathappens.
Jandel Allen-Davis (28:05):
You know, it's really amazing about what
you all said.
I was thinking I wonder whatpeople who listen to this will
think for those who, for whomwork is just suffocating, just
know that there are really coolplaces out there that are, you
know that that allow this, andnot only allow it, but enable it
and expect it.
(28:26):
You may think we've laughed awhole lot in this hour that we
don't have a serious side, but,as I said, play is work and
we've got the outcomes from apatient perspective, from an
employee satisfactionperspective, from a quality, a
financial you name it a safetyperspective, to show that this
is an important ingredient.
It's not the only ingredient.
(28:46):
Every day is not a beautiful dayfor our patients.
Every day is not necessarily abeautiful day for us, but for
the most part, the right alchemyof a great mission
purpose-driven people who aregiven the autonomy to do what is
right within the skill set thatthey have and bring that to
bear, not just in the care ofthe patients, but for those of
(29:09):
us as leaders, in the care ofthose we serve, our team members
.
It's unique and it's specialand it's not impossible to do
Well.
Thank you all for the timetoday.
This was just too much fun.
Tom Carr (29:21):
Thank you.
Jandel Allen-Davis (29:25):
So we just got to spend some time with Tom
Carr and Joe Fangman, twoleaders at Craig, talking about
the importance of play, and itwas in listening to them that I
realized that these threepillars of working hard and
playing hard which is all aboutintegrating and recognizing the
value of humor and fun and playas part of great work
(29:48):
environments that aretransferable, those are all
skills that are transferable andapplicable to all of our
workplaces and can show up more.
All of that is wrapped up inthis bow called.
It starts at the top.
You know how we leverage play,both in our personal lives and
how we bring it into theworkplace, and what we enable,
(30:08):
what we unleash from theperspective of creativity and
innovation, what showing our ownvulnerability by you know.
In the case of me, I'll doanything around here, us as
leaders, showing up and beingpart of the team that way and
being willing to be vulnerable,less buttoned up, have fun
enables and allows others tobring their whole selves into
(30:31):
work as well, and so I really doencourage those of you who
might be listening to considerthe importance of workplaces
that have a healthy dose ofmirth, humor, play and fun as
part of the very same coin thatdoes have the sort of serious
(30:54):
part of things, and in fact evenin those at least the way this
leader myself, how I choose tolead, even when we're talking
about those topics, trust me,there's plenty of laughter at
different points, both used in adisarming way, but typically in
a way that just allows everyoneto relax and not take either
(31:14):
themselves so seriously, thework so seriously.
Astonishingly, both then getthe serious attention that they
need.
So thank you for listening.
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