The benefits of hindsight

摘要

We ignore the importance of hindsight - and foresight - at our peril. Hindsight doesn't deliver all the answers, but it can shine a useful spotlight on vital information and insights that might not otherwise be obvious. Applying hindsight, this article may help you assess some past predictions in a new light. Of course, the greatest value of hindsight is that it provides the purest form of 20:20 vision. This is in total contrast to foresight, which is notoriously hazy, no matter what policy leaders may claim. This key shortcoming was best summed up by Danish scientist and Nobel Prize winner Niels Bohr, who famously stated: 'Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future.' Examining hindsight, on the other hand, often provides clues to the best course to follow in the future. It also gives us the ability to recognise truly far-sighted vision, albeit long after the event. Two examples demonstrate how.