Why share a deadline when nobody asked for it?

The scenario usually goes as follow:

Me: Hey, could you do this for me please?
Someone: Sure, it will be done by Wednesday!
Me: Oh great! Thanks.
Wednesday: nothing. Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday: nothing.

I did not ask for any deadline. I might have said I was not in a hurry though. Maybe it was my mistake then. But as soon as you give me a deadline, I hold you accountable for it.

Setting yourself a deadline is one thing. Sharing it and missing it without keeping me informed is another. If you miss a deadline, that is ok but make sure to share the information. As I usually say, I don’t expect anyone to be a to-do list freak like me, but when I have to keep tab on someone else’s todo-list, that pisses me off.

Don’t get me wrong, people (including me) miss deadline all the time. But not everyone keeps people in the loop.