A deadline sounds like a date, but it's really an agreement. When you set one for your team, you need them to understand it, believe it's possible, and tell you early if it stops being possible. When a deadline has to move, you're the one who explains why and makes the new one stick.
Be exact. "End of the week" means Friday at five to one person and Sunday night to another, and "end of day" depends on the city. Give the date, the time and, for teams across time zones, whose clock you mean. Say whether it's a hard deadline, which can't move, or a soft one, which can bend a little. And ask "Is that realistic?" and mean it; a date someone agreed to under pressure is a date they'll miss.
Phrases
stating the date clearly
checking that the date can really work
a date that can't move
a date that can move a little if needed
before the working day finishes
asking for a warning before there's a problem
there's a risk of missing the date
progressing as planned
get later than planned
change the date
get a little extra time
asking what's needed to reach a goal
firm, for a deadline that really matters
Say it out loud
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Practice · 3 min
Say the line that fits. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.
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Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.