Cut Out Time Estimates on Roadmaps: Get Into a Product Delivery Rhythm

Honeycomb advocates removing time estimates from roadmaps because they're 'almost always wrong' and trying to predict exact timelines is 'performative' that sets teams up for disappointment. Instead of wasting energy on precise timeline predictions that distract from delivering meaningful value, they propose establishing a flexible rhythm through graduated timebox approaches: yearly high-level product strategy (flexible, not overly detailed), quarterly OKRs, 'eighthly' (6-week) lightweight planning cycles, bi-weekly updates, weekly demos, and daily team syncs. This approach maintains alignment across teams, allows rapid adaptation to changing market conditions, keeps focus on value creation, reduces pressure and team conflict, and creates visibility into work progress. Engineering leaders will learn to 'wield time as a blade'—using it to sharpen focus and trim waste rather than as a punitive measurement tool. The framework replaces the false precision of traditional roadmap dates with sustainable delivery cadences that acknowledge uncertainty while maintaining predictable communication rhythms that stakeholders can rely on.