From the Wall to the Heart: How to Live Out Your Staff Values

Article by Zach Imboden

I remember walking into one church where the staff values were displayed beautifully—large, professionally printed signs hanging in the front office and lining the hallway where team members passed by daily. It was clear they had invested time and energy into crafting those values.

But when I casually asked a few staff members what their values were, they paused, glanced up at the wall, and read them to me.

There’s nothing wrong with displaying your values visually—visibility matters. But this moment revealed a bigger issue: their values hadn’t made it off the wall and into the hearts of the team. They were decorations, not a shared way of life.

Unfortunately, this is a common reality in many organizations. We’ve been told that having clear values is essential (and it is!), but we’re often left wondering:

●      How do we actually live these out? 

●      How do we take them off the wall and embed them into our culture?

To answer that, we need to explore two critical questions:

1. How Will You Integrate Your Values into Your Meetings?

Staff culture is most effectively shaped through repetition and relationships, and that happens in the rhythms of regular meetings—if we’re intentional.

Here’s how different types of meetings can reinforce your values:

●      1-on-1s: These are prime moments for personal coaching and alignment. Use them to ask questions like, “How have you seen our values play out in your work this week?” or “What’s been a challenge in living out [specific value]?”

●      Small Group Settings: Whether it’s team huddles or department gatherings, these are great opportunities to discuss wins and challenges related to your values. Use case studies or recent scenarios to apply values in real-time.

●      Whole Team Gatherings: Staff meetings, retreats, or all-hands calls are the perfect space to tell stories, celebrate wins, and reinforce alignment. Highlight team members who are modeling your values well.

2. When Will You Talk About, Celebrate, and Equip Your Values?

Rhythm is everything. The more consistent you are, the more deeply your values will take root. Here’s a practical framework:

Weekly:

●      Start staff meetings with a quick “values win” story. 

●      Share shout-outs or encouragements that connect back to a core value.

Monthly:

●      Highlight one value at a time and go deeper in discussion or training. 

●      Use small groups or breakout sessions to ask, “What does this look like in our specific roles?”

Quarterly:

●      Conduct a team values check-in. Reflect on where your team is strong and where you need to grow. 

●      Invite anonymous feedback and use it to re-calibrate.

Yearly:

●      Recast the vision. Take time to evaluate and celebrate how your team has lived out its values. 

●      Consider refreshing or updating language if your culture has evolved.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you want to move your staff values off the wall and into your people, you must answer two questions:

1. How will you embed your values into the regular rhythms of team life?

2. When will you create intentional moments to celebrate, discuss, and develop them?

Values won’t shape your culture just because they’re printed in a frame. They shape your culture when they’re practiced, celebrated, and modeled consistently.

So let’s take them off the wall—and watch them come to life in your people. If you're ready to turn your values into a culture that actually works—let’s talk. Contact us today to learn more about how our seven-session consulting service can help you cultivate the staff culture your mission deserves.