Looking back to go forward.

I hope you are having a great start to 2026.

The new year is a prompt to look forward, but also to look back over the prior year, to take stock of what went right, what was intended but didn’t get done and what didn’t go so well.

As January unfolds and work ramps up again, it’s a good time to plan for what you want to put on the docket for 2026.

To help frame this out, I suggest doing a Hindsight–Insight–Foresight (H-I-F) exercise. This will help you reflect on the actions that have contributed to where your business or studio practice is at now and consider what worked, what didn’t, what to do more or less of, and what to do next.

The basics of a Hindsight–Insight–Foresight (H-I-F)

The H-I-F focuses on three stages (hindsight, insight, foresight) which reflect three states (past, present, future). In this context:

• Hindsight is reviewing the prior year’s actions and outcomes that are now in effect.

• Insight is understanding how those actions unfolded and the value they delivered.

• Foresight is identifying what made those actions effective, so you can carry these elements forward to guide future actions.

Below is a simple H-I-F document that visually lays out what you’ll need to consider and respond to for each stage. Download it for free and use it as a guide or use it as a prompt to build your own version.

H-I-F Guide

H-I-F Chart.

Tips

#1 Hindsight
List the most impactful outcomes only. Try not to get in the weeds or list every single thing you or your team did last year. Be objective and separate facts from interpretations.

#2 Insight
Dig into why something worked–or didn’t. Was it due to information, communication, functionality, or accessibility? What made it easy or difficult?

#3 Foresight
Be selective. Carry forward only the lessons and actions that will make future work easier and better aligned with your goals. These might relate to processes, system setup, data visibility, or the clarity of information and tasks.

#4 Documentation
Document and share the completed version with your team. Use it as a reference, repeat the exercise annually.

Hopefully, the above sets a clear baseline for a Hindsight–Insight–Foresight review and help map out the year ahead.

This framework is useful for anyone looking to reflect, make improvements and build from what’s already working.

If you’re a studio based practitioner or a small business owner who needs a hand getting your day-to-day-operations, workstreams or projects on track, feel free to CONTACT ME. I can help clarify what support options to consider based on what your capacity and goals are.

–Cath