BCG BLog

The Residual Effect

Where you are now is not a result of the present, but the past. All the benefits you are experiencing, all the troubles you are facing, are the side effects of decisions you made weeks, months, or years ago. 

Residual is an adjective used to describe what is “remaining after the greater part or quantity has gone.” This not only applies to the edges of a pop tart, but also to the decisions we make.

Every choice we make leaves residue. Every. Single. One.
There are no exceptions.

A sound understanding of this is clearly a significant aspect of leadership. We all realize that our choices impact far more than just ourselves, or even our teams. 

Likewise, our past choices impact our future choices. The residual effect of our choices has a major influence on the choice we may have down the road.

Why Should We Care?
I’m confident most people acknowledge this residual effect in their lives. Some more than others, obviously, but it’s pretty hard to dispute in its entirety. More often, I’ve found people are simply not fully aware of the far-reaching influence it can have.

Here are a few examples that come to mind:

• Finances
  
  • Aware - Generally speaking, most people understand that if you buy ‘this’, then you can’t buy ‘that’. Your choice to purchase one item impacts your ability, or need, to purchase another item. The residue shows up here as having, or not having, the necessary funds to get what you want.
    
  • Unaware - It’s challenging to truly appreciate the residual effect of choosing to live beneath our means and realizing that more isn’t always better. This residue brings a freedom begging you to stop chasing and begin appreciating.
    
• Relationships
  
  • Aware - Investing in relationships that are important to us has a great, compounding effect on our productivity in life. The residual effect of relationships has been well documented, both sides. The company we keep can undoubtedly lift us up or pull us down, depending on the residue from each.
    
  • Unaware - Our relationships are the true fountain to our happiness. Nothing is more important to our smile than the relationships we value. And, it’s not the quantity, but the quality and depth that leaves the most residue. We all know it matters, but not enough. If you’re having a bad day, or week, go invest in a relationship that’s important to you. The residue you will create almost always has a way of turning your fortunes.
    
• Hard Work
  
  • Aware - We’ve all heard ‘you get what you work for.’ I tend to agree with it in most circumstances. I know, for sure, the opposite is true. You don’t get what you don’t work for. And, honestly who wants that anyway? Those on the path to excellence embrace this side of work. Most people acknowledge their work residue when promotions and new opportunities present themselves.
    
  • Unaware - Confidence - not now, but sometime. Hard work, if trusted long enough and done to a high standard will lead to an unwavering confidence in yourself that is impossible to forge any other way. We rarely view our dedication and hardwork as a foundation for our confidence, but that’s likely the most important residue that remains.
    

REAL TALK - Action Steps
I also thought I would include a few things that we too often dismiss as insignificant, but leave a major residue and greatly impact our future self. 

• Your Inner Voice 
  
  • What you say to yourself matters. I mean, who talks to you more than yourself? Of course we are bent towards the negative. And, of course, that’s not good. A negative inner voice, self-talk, will leave residue that we are stuck dealing with in the moment and far into the future. Fortunately, so will a positive inner voice. By developing, and focusing on our strong voice, we can leave the residue that will benefit us now and in the future. We all have positive and negative voices and they both are always going to be there. The trick is to make sure the strong one gets the last word.
    

• Body Language
  
  • Ahhh. Body language is a big deal for me. I despise negative body language, but I’m convinced people that consistently display bad body language are unaware of the residue it’s leaving. I say residue, but I think of it more like puke - it’s gross and no one wants to be around it. If you’re around bad body language too long, it will suck you in and before long you will be moping around too. Good, strong body language is just a choice away though. You have the power to lift, and inspire, those in your company simply with your body language. How cool is that?!
    

• Mindfulness
  
  • Technology has become the biggest thief of the present. We eagerly search for opportunities to remove ourselves from the present in an effort to be somewhere, anywhere, else. This residue could potentially have the most damning impact of all those listed. The present moment is not replaceable. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Worse than that, everything that moment had to offer is gone with it. Add too many of these up and our future self will look back with deep regret at opportunities missed. The residue of mindfulness offers a moment by moment account of our life, with new opportunities and choices right around the next corner.
    

What we choose today impacts tomorrow. We would all be better served if we were mindful of that reality in our day to day living. Nothing, and no one, in life operates in isolation. The residue of today’s decisions will determine the choices of tomorrow.

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