Petre, what a great comment and reflection from you! I agree that many managers will fight the change to keep the status quo - the agile ideas require a different leadership style for the "new" organization—an organization where command and control are not valued. As humans, I think we tend to stick to behaviors and solutions that have worked for us previously.

Leaders who can shift between different leadership styles and alternate between coercive, authoritative, affiliative, democratic, pacesetting, or coaching styles based on situation will not have a problem.

Other leaders who have built their entire careers, as you say, will not want to change and will fight the changes. I have for sure been in situations where the agile transformation started - Still, when deadlines are not met, or incidents occur, these managers step in with a whip telling people to work double hours spreading threats around them while nodding to their fellow managers:

"Told you so, trust is good, but control is better."

I agree that we will have to live with old-style managers for a while - I do believe the new generation who have grown up with WoW and other MMOG's are so used to work with Agile principles that the old style will be completely alien and unacceptable.

Meanwhile, I have met many "old" managers who are very curious and wish to learn. They do understand if they don't change, they will not have a company or any employees in a few years.

I am happy you liked the comparison with Plato's cave - I also find the idea handy.