Manager Identity: Leading Without Setting the Vision

In this episode of Leadership Limbo, Josh and John explore the role of vision in leadership, especially for middle managers who often inherit rather than create vision. They emphasize the importance of fully internalizing and integrating vision into daily practices, even when you are already aligned. The conversation dives into the tension that arises when managers don’t fully agree with a vision. Josh shares a framework for self-reflection through the lens of self-preservation behaviors: asking What am I afraid of losing? What am I trying to hide? What am I trying to prove? John introduces the principle of “disagree and commit,” highlighting how leaders can create space for healthy debate, then unite in full commitment once a decision is made. The episode closes with four practical takeaways for managers: Internalize your organization’s vision so you can teach it. Integrate vision into daily conversations and priorities. Reflect on self-preservation tendencies that may cause resistance. Disagree and commit to build trust, alignment, and follow-through.