how much should core values cost?

Core values. Every organization has them. They're either stated or unstated. The stated core values are the ones you find on the "about us" page on a website or in an organization's brochure. The unstated core values are the ones that really drive the organization. The key as a leader is to do whatever it takes to make sure that any stated core values are the same as the unstated core values. It's easy to say who you are on paper and be completely different as an organization or as a person.

For instance, the unstated core values of any given organization are apparent by the way that organization interacts with their client. If that org. (I'm tired of typing the whole word so I'll abbreviate it as org. from here on) is customer conscious, friendly, and helpful it's evident that they value the client. The org. may or may not have customer care as a stated core value but it's evident that the org. has developed a DNA that is other-people-centered. They care about the customer. In the orgs. that you and I have visited, there may not be a sign to say that they value you as a customer, you simply feel valued. That's because the org. has trained its employees or volunteers that serving the client comes at a cost. The cost of a customer-oriented core value is: Replacing a bad attitude with a good one, setting aside personal issues, and positively interpreting what is happening in the org. that you don't like that day.

Here's an example from a company I've loved since I was a kid: Sonic Drive-In. Sure, there are some Sonics that have bad service. But overall, the customer service is very good. Even though not all of the carhops rollerskate to your car anymore, it's still a great place to eat. Last Friday evening, they forgot the tomatoes on our cheeseburgers. With a push of the magical red button, our server came with six tomatoes. Ummmmm, extra tomatoes. No muss, no fuss. Just good customer service....with a smile, by the way. You could see that a customer-oriented core value had been adopted by this store. The manager had it and so did all of the employees. You could see that the cost of the customer-oriented core value was a price they were willing to pay.

I don't want The Journey Church's stated core values to be cheap, empty words on a page. There's nothing worse saying you're one thing and being another. I've even considered taking our core values off our website until we become more like our core values.

Since our core values come from the Bible, that means that they are attainable and sustainable. For Christ-followers, we know they're attainable because we "can do all things through Him who strengthens us." They're sustainable because "He who began a good work" in us "is faithful to complete it."

The cost of living Biblical core values is high. It costs us our right to claim church for our own needs. So how much should core values cost? It depends on what you want to pay. To put an old saying a different way....The customer gets what you pay for.