Explore effective communication strategies for setting and managing dates and deadlines in software development through this 12-minute conference talk from LeadDev New York 2024. Delve into the challenges of communicating timelines, especially in distributed teams, and learn how to transform dates from potential sources of confusion and demotivation into positive contributors to team goals. Discover communication habits that enhance knowledge sharing, establish credibility, and align with team values. Gain insights on creating a common understanding of dates, implementing principles for confident timeline setting, and developing a shared vocabulary that promotes team cohesion and productivity. Through practical examples and lessons learned, acquire tools to make dates and deadlines a constructive force in your software development projects.