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“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” 

We’re more of a coffee & donut team, but to each their own. This quote, while a little quirky, is SO true. We’ve seen it play out over and over again as we have been teaming up with churches for over 22 years. An organization can have a killer strategy, a polished brand and a slick set of marketing campaigns … but if their team values aren’t clear (and lived out), it can all fall apart. 

And honestly, doesn’t that make you feel a little relieved? Just like we’re told in Ephesians 2:8-9 ...

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith … not by works, so that no one can boast.”

God cares more about who we are than what we do. The same is true for our organizations: Our heart posture, the way we show up for the work and for each other, matters more than how we get the work done.

The Fishhook Vibe 

Back in 2018, Fishhook hit pause long enough to put our internal values on paper. For years, we had a shared sense of “the Fishhook vibe.” We could feel it. But we’d never taken the time to name it.

When we finally did, these were the values that rose to the surface:

• We focus on Jesus so we can focus on others
• We are whole people, known and valued
• We bring humble and hungry hearts to the table
• We are committed to creating a healthy team culture built on relationships and trust
• We choose to see possibilities everywhere we look
• We bring the buffoonery

Writing these down didn’t magically change our culture. But it gave us a reference point. Suddenly, we had language to check in on how we were doing—not just on the work itself, but on how we were showing up for one another. And we’ve been using them as a north star ever since.

What Good Values Should Be

Documenting values isn’t just about having something inspirational to post on your website or hang in the staff kitchen.

Strong values should shape the daily rhythms of your team. They should influence who you hire, how you show up for the work and for each other. 

Good values should be:

• Distinct: There has never been another organization exactly like you. Your values should reflect that uniqueness.
• Clear: You should be able to easily remember them, recite them, explain them and live them out.
• Rally-Worthy: These values should inspire and unify your team. When you read them, you should feel like saying, “Yes, that’s us!!” 

Check the Health of Your Values

Here’s a quick exercise for your team:

1. Write down your current values (if you have them).
2. Identify 3-5 examples of how each one shows up in everyday life.
3. Spot the gaps. Are they unclear? Hard to live out? Or maybe too generic to rally your team?

Almost every team will find gaps. The goal isn’t perfection ... it’s awareness. Once you see where the gaps are, you can do something about them.

And if you don’t have core values yet? Gather a few trusted team members or volunteers. Ask questions like:

• What do our best people naturally bring to the table?
• What’s celebrated in our culture?
• What makes people stick around?
• What’s unique to our DNA as a team?

Then, put those insights into 5-7 action-oriented value statements. (Pro tip: “We bring humble and hungry hearts to the table” paints a picture better than “Be humble. Work hard.”)

Living Them Out

We always say you cultivate what you celebrate! 

So, once you’ve clarified your values:

• Make them visible. Put them where your team sees them daily.
• Integrate them. Use them in hiring, reviews and everyday conversations.
• Reality check often. Ask, “How are we doing at this?”

Because here’s the truth: values aren’t about painting a pretty picture. They’re about living into what’s already true—and, with intention, becoming even healthier over time.

So, what are your organization’s core values? Where do you see the biggest gap between documenting them and living them out? And what would help you keep them at the center of your work in 2025?

If you’re looking for support to uncover or embrace your team values, reach out! We’d love to tell you more about our process and how we see values impacting the ministry and impact of churches.