"this will be done tomorrow/next week/in three months"
This type of answer is also possible if you can agree on the desired confidence. I've found that 95% confidence is sufficient for most cases, but that number will depend on context. Understanding the stakes of the deadline for stakeholders can help adjust this further.
I agree that building trust with stakeholders can be tricky, and discussions about risks can be sometimes be interpreted as unwillingness to take responsibility. In that situation, the team can at least get a measure on their level of confidence and give an initial number they're somewhat comfortable with, as well as an estimate of how likely to succeed the agreed upon number is.
This type of answer is also possible if you can agree on the desired confidence. I've found that 95% confidence is sufficient for most cases, but that number will depend on context. Understanding the stakes of the deadline for stakeholders can help adjust this further.
I agree that building trust with stakeholders can be tricky, and discussions about risks can be sometimes be interpreted as unwillingness to take responsibility. In that situation, the team can at least get a measure on their level of confidence and give an initial number they're somewhat comfortable with, as well as an estimate of how likely to succeed the agreed upon number is.