Dates are clear, clear is kind

At first it feels rude. You're asking something of a colleague on another team at work, a conversation something like this, perhaps in Slack or Teams:

You: "Hey, can you please get this database access set up for me?"

Them: "Sure! Will do"

Then you go off on your merry way. A few days pass, and then your boss asks "What's happening with that database request?" to which you have to reply, "Still waiting on <other team>, let me check."

You: "Hey, just checking on that request, any news?"

Them: "Oh sorry, been really swamped, will get on it when we can"

It can go on like that. Or you can get it out of the way right away, going back to the original conversation:

You: "Hey, can you please get this database access set up for me?"

Them: "Sure! Will do"

You: "Thanks! Do you have an ETA on when you can get to that?"

Sometimes their answer is straight-forward:

Them: "Oh, might not be until end of next week. Does that work for you?"

And you can figure out if that does work for you based on the urgency you're getting from your clients or boss, and have an up-front conversation, instead of finding out late in the game.

Dates can also shake out ambiguity about whose plate it's on. It can go like this:

You: "Thanks! Do you have an ETA on when you can get to that?"

Them: "Oh actually before we do that, we need a list of users who need access."

That kind of forcing function can be invaluable for ensuring you can deliver your projects on time. Recognize at the same time that stuff comes up, that people get sick, higher priority items can pop up, and any date is never guaranteed, but asking the question can flush out a lot of the ambiguity and set you up for more success.

By the same token, don't be surprised or offended when others ask you for dates, and do your best to provide a date as accurate and specific as you can. Dates provide clarity for everyone involved, and as has been noted in many places by many people, clear is kind.