Steve McConnell, in his book "Software Estimation: Demystifying the Black Art" [1] gives this advice (paraphrased):
Never give off-the-cuff estimates, no matter who is asking.
Bosses and project managers tend to hold you to those estimates regardless of the caveats you give. Also, of course, an off-the-cuff estimate is very likely to be more wrong than a detailed estimate.
Here's why this is relevant to the OP: by withholding your estimate until you've had a chance to give it enough thought, you relieve the social pressure that is created in the moment by the project manager or boss who is saying, "we must have it and it must be easy, can you do it today?" Just say, "let me get back to you," and follow up with a reasonable compromise that is healthy for the project and meets the business goal.
Never give off-the-cuff estimates, no matter who is asking.
Never give off-the-cuff estimates, no matter who is asking.
Bosses and project managers tend to hold you to those estimates regardless of the caveats you give. Also, of course, an off-the-cuff estimate is very likely to be more wrong than a detailed estimate.
Here's why this is relevant to the OP: by withholding your estimate until you've had a chance to give it enough thought, you relieve the social pressure that is created in the moment by the project manager or boss who is saying, "we must have it and it must be easy, can you do it today?" Just say, "let me get back to you," and follow up with a reasonable compromise that is healthy for the project and meets the business goal.
Never give off-the-cuff estimates, no matter who is asking.
[1] http://www.amazon.com/Software-Estimation-Demystifying-Pract...