diff --git a/docs/proposal/001-leader-election.md b/docs/proposal/001-leader-election.md
index 4002e85de..f8bcd7946 100644
--- a/docs/proposal/001-leader-election.md
+++ b/docs/proposal/001-leader-election.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 title: leader election proposal
 version: 0.15.1
 authors: @ivankatliarchuk
-creation-date: 2025-jan-30
+creation-date: 2025-01-30
 status: not-planned
 ---
 ```
diff --git a/docs/proposal/design-template.md b/docs/proposal/design-template.md
index 59922a34f..5735ccc42 100644
--- a/docs/proposal/design-template.md
+++ b/docs/proposal/design-template.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 title: New Feature or Deprecation/Removal Proposal
 version: if applicable
 authors: you, me
-creation-date: 2025-jan-01
+creation-date: 2025-01-25 # format ISO 8601: YYYY-MM-DD
 status: draft|approved|rejected|not-planned|partially-implemented|implemented
 ---
 ```