"I will do my best" is a sure way to miss a project deadline

There is a week left to finish the project.  As a PM you ask a developer lead if the project will be finished on time.  The answer is:

"I will do my best".

Sounds great, right?  So why is it you have a a sick feeling in your stomach. Ahhh, you remember that that's what Dev Lead said last release and release before, and it sounded as good as it does this time.  BUT...  what followed these words wasn't as good.  Deadlines were missed, developers scrambled to try to finish what was expected, but instead, like quick sand they were sucked into a Hell Week of sleepless nights, breaking bugs, and lots and lots of junk food.

But all that is now forgotten, and for this release it sure will be different. Thank god humans were gifted  with very short memories or  that stair in "Modern Family" would actually get fixed after 3 seasons.

I would say, yes there is a chance it will be different in this release.

But reality is that when you hear:

"I will do my best", you may as well go to supermarket and buy the biggest bag of cheetoes you can find, because that will be you diet for the week after deadline.

This phrase was encrypted using forgotten "BS++ slang". The original phrase is:

"There is basically know way this project is getting done on time, for all kinda reasons, but I have used this phrase many times before and that's what my PM wants to hear anyways."

I can see why PMs usually just end their line of questioning at this point and hope for the best:

Developers are scary they got sticks and scary language that sounds kinda like Klingon, but spoken with British accent.  If you cross them, you never know when they corner you with their collector edition phaser and the unforgettable "Kirk and Spock Bottle" music playing in background.

Taaaaaaa daaaa taaaaaa daaaaaa, ne ne ne ne ne ne ne neeeeeeeee, na na na na na na naaaaaaaaaaaa, taaaaaaa daaaa taaaaaa daaaaaa, 

The only solution to this is facing you fears.  Bite the bullet, think of how you gave only half of the money to your highschool bully that one time, or re-experience the last 30 minutes of the Good-buys in Lord of the Rings - whatever else relaxes your mind and gives your courage.

BONUS POINTS:  Tie developer to dentist chair and wave dental instruments in his/her face while repeating "Is it Safe?  Is it Saaaafe?"   German accent is a plus.

Keep asking Developer or Tech lead until you get one of the following two answers:

1. Yes it will be done on time. (Preferred)
2. No it will not be done on time (At which point you pull one tooth, as a lesson*)

These are both valid answers.  It should be encouraged for devs to tell the truth as early as possible, because the sooner PM knows that project might slip, the sooner he/she can take steps to correct the situation

• Move some tasks 
• Extend the deadline.
• See if devs can work overtime (preferred not)

All these are valid options that should be discussed openly as soon as there is a possibility of project slipping. 

I would like to conclude this, by quoting an old book: "The truth will set you free, while truthiness will be paid back in free involuntary teeth extraction". Please check your medical insurance to see if it is covered.

NOTES

* The author of this Blog doesn't condone any type of violence**

** Unless you can prove that Developer is Enemy Combatant, which shouldn't be difficult after perfect record of 5+ missed deadlines.