A clear estimate is kinder than repeated promises that something will happen in a moment.

Being told a thing is nearly ready keeps a person standing in the doorway. They cannot start anything, cannot leave, cannot plan the next hour, because any minute now has no length. A real figure, even a disappointing one, hands their time back to them. Vagueness feels gentler to say and is much harder to receive.

When someone is waiting on you, give them a number you believe: twenty minutes, tomorrow afternoon, Friday. If it changes, say so early rather than at the deadline. People forgive a long wait far more easily than a wait with no edges.