Question about "Due Dates" in a team scenario

[mcogilvie]

My question is this:
* Before GTD, I used to assign tasks to people in my team and ask for an ETA. The ETA was our informal "contract". Of course, subject to re-negotiation as soon as priorities change, new tasks emerge, etc. If it was not re-negotiated, I used to check with them on that date to ask about the status.
* Does GTD recommend that I do *not* ask for ETA when assigning tasks to people in my team, and that people in my team should *not* commit to a due date for their deliverables?

DA recommends that you act appropriately. While the language of your first point sounds very flexible, "commit to a due date for deliverables" is not. As a manager, you will help your team by giving clear guidance on priorities and deadlines: "We need this by XX because..." or "I'd like to have this by YY because..." Of course, some team members and some tasks may require more guidance: "I'll check back with you after the trip to ZZ to see if the parameters have changed."