Timing is the secret sauce of nearly every story of success, and we can improve ours. Do you ever feel like you’re out of sync—rushing through lessons, reacting instead of responding, or missing the moments that matter most? Knowing when to act is just as important as what to do. But how do you master that sense of timing when every day feels unpredictable?
Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing.
There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow
people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time
to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over.
— Octavia Butler
Timing is the key to many things in life—that ability to read the room, understand the mood and flow, see the various perspectives, and then say or do what is best. Timing is the wise sensitivity and discipline of doing the right thing at the right time.
The key to great cooking is timing. The key to great comedy is timing. The key to great music is timing. The key to great teaching is timing. The key to great relationships is timing. The key to great leadership is timing.
The time is always right
to do what is right.
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Sometimes, the ideal moment is one that could not have been anticipated. Surprise!
Being in the right place at the right time is key, but it’s also about being ready for it. Preparation and practice always improve our timing, as does coaching feedback.
Too often, though, we think we have time for that later as we meander through life. Then we show up in the moment like a middle schooler at the dance who doesn't quite have the rhythm and timing to dance to the beat. So we step on lots of toes.
For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under heaven
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
The people and conditions around us are constantly changing, requiring assessment and adjustment to find the right rhythm and timing. We also have to learn to trust. We expect our schedule to work as planned, but wisdom recognizes divine timing.
Our faith and influence are strengthened when we remember how little we actually control, knowing that a greater plan will prevail, and we can reasonably trust it. School life is quite unpredictable, but we are the stabilizing force at the right time.
When you practice and then master the art of timing, you’ll be committing to the right priorities while also adapting to the needs of the moment.
