This was one of my first real work life "lessons" after college and something that a good manager can really help drive home with junior employees.
Coming from college where deadlines were immutable and professors didn't really care to hear about why some long research paper was taking longer than expected, the idea of telling a boss that you're behind schedule doesn't necessarily come naturally.
Yup, and it's a tragedy. A boss cares about the work being delivered, and wants the end product as a valuable piece of the business.
It's not like school where if one is late, one might as well not even turn it in; even if it's late, it's still valuable, and school doesn't teach that.
Coming from college where deadlines were immutable and professors didn't really care to hear about why some long research paper was taking longer than expected, the idea of telling a boss that you're behind schedule doesn't necessarily come naturally.