This has to start with defining what information a pilot wants for each stage of a flight
This, to me, is an important, and more broad theme. At the point where the pilot lines up at the end of the runway to take off, if not the major part of the flight, at least the first few minutes should be thought through; "what do I want this airplane to do with me in it for the next phase of this flight?". From that, there should be, as BPF points out, a TLAR which can look ahead for the next minute or so. That is the pilot flying the plane, rather than the other way around.
We have skill and judgement, they are different. The skill is; "Can my hands and feet make this plane to that [smoothly]?". The judgement is: "Is this airplane safely capable of doing X under these conditions, and with the skill I'm able to apply to doing it?". It take a measure of both to fly safely.
If you know that airplane can do it, but you can't get it right, that's learning and practice, which is fine, as long as it has a safety margin around it, the plan to step back if needed, and perhaps some instruction/oversight. If you don't know if the airplane is capable, then that's research and instruction first, then skill building.
But once the skill and judgement are in appropriate balance for what you're flying and where, then you should always have a TLAR going in your mind. Whatever controls you have, how will you use them to make the plane do the next thing properly, and once initiated, is it working?
Many times over the decades, I have flown another of a type I was familiar with. I remember the first time in the late '70's, I rented a private 172, to find that it had an HSI, and DME, neither of which I had seen before, nor had instruction on. Yep, I did a bunch of knob twisting, and button pushing, while in stable VFR flight, and a lot of asking myself if TLAR. I sort of figured it out, and never relied upon that imperfect knowledge. When I moved into right seat in the twins, it was not the first time I had seen these (which was helpful) and my Captains helped me learn properly. But TLAR was key.... What did I think that the airplane should do next, and was that happening?
So, imagine my surprise a bit over a year ago to be stall testing the 182 amphibian to have the pitch trim roll itself full nose down on its own, annunicated with an "Autopilot engaged" audio chime - Anti TLAR! I learned, and did not like what I learned! I was now a high time CPL, flying an airplane more complex than I understood it to be!