Ghost Values in Ministry: 3 Ways to Understand, Recognize, and Align Yourself for Resilient Ministry

We have all seen it. Values on a wall. Values on a website. Seen values… 

BUT,

EVERY organization and ministry also have ghost values. Ghost values are unseen yet felt. Not spoken but seen. Expected and, to be honest, assumed. Here are 3 ways to understand, recognize, and align yourself with ghost values:

Look at your Leader

Most ghost values are recognized by HOW the senior leader leads. Study his/her disposition, passions, key phrases, work-ethic. If you understand your leader, you will find ghost values.

Recognize Language

Study language in your organization/ministry. What key words stick. What is the team saying? What is being repeated?

Understand Key Relationships

In most cases, key relationships also reveal ghost values. Longevity in staff and/or teams will give you some insight on ghost values. Why? Because they are still in the organization/ministry. What are those key relationships showing you about ghost values?

With that said, if you don’t understand and/or recognize the ghost values in an organization/ministry, you will deteriorate trust and influence. And, perhaps will not stay long in the context. 

When you understand ghost values, you will thrive in ANY organization/ministry. 

What ghost values have you noticed in your context?