Providing a deadline for a project you do not fully understand is a recipe for failure. Many developers default to guessing (e.g., “two weeks”) to relieve immediate pressure, but this creates a binding expectation based on a fantasy. When the deadline is inevitably missed, trust is broken, burnout ensues, and careers can be damaged.
The Rule of Ranges
Stakeholders usually ask for dates to manage their anxiety, not to trick you. However, giving a single number implies a level of certainty that does not exist. To protect yourself and the project, never give a single date. Instead, provide a time range (e.g., “3 to 6 weeks”). This honestly reflects the reality that early estimates are imprecise. As you gain more information, the range can naturally narrow.
Tactics for Handling Pressure
If a stakeholder pushes for a hard date without providing sufficient information or precision, use the following strategies:
- The Discovery Proposal: Refuse to guess. Instead, ask for 2 days to research the code and requirements, promising a realistic range by the end of that period.
- The Risk Transfer: Clearly state the odds. “I can say 4 weeks, but there is a 70% chance that number is wrong. Is that what you want?”
- The “No” with a Pathway: Present trade-offs rather than a flat refusal. “I can’t do two weeks without shipping junk. I can either finish my current project on time, or pull in another dev. Which do you prefer?”
The Cost of Bad Estimates
Agreeing to impossible deadlines forces teams to work weekends and cut corners. Statistics show that high-pressure code contains up to 15 times more bugs than code written under realistic constraints. True professionalism is not about making people feel comfortable with a lie; it is about providing the uncomfortable truth so the business can make informed decisions.
Mentoring question
When pressed for a deadline on an ambiguous task, do you tend to prioritize immediate relief by guessing, or do you prioritize long-term trust by asking for discovery time?
Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=2-QCqbMsPDc&si=kFazOsjuvC3n8MoD