Most successful people share the same handful of things in common:
They are disciplined with their time
They know how to stay focused on one goal at a time
They have mentors and other influential people they can turn to for advice
They have mastered one (or multiple) valuable skills
Etc.
But in Program Management, in particular, I have noticed that the most successful people have this one habit in common:
They religiously document decisions and their context.
And here's why:
Program Management is fundamentally about orchestrating complex initiatives across multiple teams and stakeholders. The best program managers understand that today's small decisions can have massive ripple effects months later. By meticulously documenting not just what was decided but why it was agreed, successful PMs create an invaluable knowledge base that:
Prevents repeated discussions about previously settled issues
Helps new team members quickly understand the historical context
Provides clear accountability and traceability
Enables better decision-making by surfacing patterns and learnings
It serves as a shield against shifting priorities and "scope creep."
While it may seem tedious, this habit of comprehensive documentation separates great program managers from good ones. It transforms them from coordinators into trusted strategic advisors who can confidently guide programs through complexity and change.