What if you have more to offer than you think?
“I don’t have enough time.”
“I don’t have the right experience.”
“I’m not sure I have what it takes.”
A reflection in Hallow’s Rebuild My Church series recently made me think about the colleagues in our Church schools who may recognise these thoughts when they consider leadership. It told the story of Jan Tyranowski, a tailor who helped nurture the faith of young men in his parish during the Nazi occupation of Poland. Among them was Karol Wojtyła, the future Pope Saint John Paul II.
Jan understood something we can easily forget: what we have received is never only for ourselves. He offered what he had: his faith, his time, his home and a willingness to accompany others. He could never have known how far that offering would reach.
What also struck me was the reflection’s observation about fear. We can care deeply, have much to contribute, and still hold back. Often, we are afraid. Afraid that what we have isn’t enough. Afraid that saying yes will mean being asked for more than we can give.
For someone considering school leadership, those fears can feel very real. Will I know enough? Will people have confidence in me? Can I carry the responsibility? What will it mean for my family—and for me?
Perhaps alongside the questions about what we lack, we need to make room for another: what has God already placed in my hands?
For some, it may be the judgement colleagues already trust, or the ability to bring people together when relationships become strained. For others, it may be the courage to have a difficult conversation with kindness, or a deep concern for children whose potential is too easily overlooked. These gifts can feel so familiar to us that we fail to recognise their value. We notice what comes more easily to someone else and overlook the contribution we are already making.
Jan’s example invites us to take that contribution seriously. He offered what he had in the circumstances before him, trusting that it could be of use. If you are considering school leadership, a first step might be to talk honestly with a trusted colleague about the potential they see in you, or to explore an opportunity you have so far dismissed. Such a conversation can help us understand both what we bring and where we still need to grow. We can begin to discern a calling while continuing to learn, seek guidance and prepare for greater responsibility.
Those of us who recruit, appoint and develop Church school leaders have a part to play in this. We need to notice the gifts people may struggle to recognise in themselves, give them opportunities to grow and provide support when they step forward. Jan could never have known how far his offering would reach. Neither can we.
Perhaps his story invites us to spend a little less time asking whether we have enough, and a little more time considering how God might use what we are willing to offer.
About Liam Dowds
Liam Dowds is the Managing Director of Emmaus Leadership. He has spent over two decades working alongside school leaders, governors and dioceses across Catholic, Church of England and wider Christian education, supporting people at every stage of their leadership journey, from those considering a first headship to those stepping into the most senior roles in the sector. He is known for the quality of his relationships with the leaders he works with, and for the care and discretion he brings to every conversation.
If you are beginning to wonder whether leadership might be for you, or if you are further along that journey and simply want to think it through with someone who understands this world well, Liam would be very glad to hear from you.
01737 652 043
ldowds@emmausleadership.me
About Emmaus Leadership
Emmaus Leadership is a specialist senior leadership recruitment consultancy working exclusively within Catholic, Church of England and wider Christian education. We support dioceses, trusts and schools in finding leaders who are not only professionally exceptional but vocationally suited to the distinctive character of faith education. Every search we undertake is shaped by a deep understanding of the sector and a genuine commitment to the communities we serve.
Find out more at emmausleadership.me