The lessons to counter “overconfidence” in leaders listed by Ravi Gurumurthy (“A new year’s resolution for leaders: learn to love uncertainty”, Opinion, December 31) are all practical and indeed do-able. I see only one snag, and that rests on the missing word — “parliament”.

The lessons appear to require reaching outside the tribe — which I am all for — but oppositions might chafe at feeling “drawn in” to what could look like decision-making. A mature opposition who knows what its politics are should have no problem as it is for the greater good of the nation, but do we have such oppositions? In the year Gurumurthy and I worked on a team (which I enjoyed), I am not sure there was such an opposition, and I am not exactly sure there is one now. So for Gurumurthy’s new year’s resolution I say to ministers and shadow ministers “be brave”.

Jeff Rooker
House of Lords, London SW1, UK