Quantum Leadership, a Textbook of New Leadership, by Tim Porter-O'Grady and Kathy Malloch. Sudbury, Mass, Jones and Bartlett Publishers Inc, 2002. 307 pages, hardcover.

Each of the 10 chapters of this insightful text has a different aspect of leadership that is skillfully portrayed as well as analyzed. The exponential expansion of knowledge is as applicable to modifying leadership in a new way as exists in every field of endeavor. It is obvious that the authors were constantly aware of change, in all its aspects, while writing the text.

The careful selection of concepts that strongly impact on steady changes will help the reader gain additional insight into this critical role. Individuals, in management roles, now must be part of the movement instead of having dominant roles. With the rapid expansion of new and better concepts it becomes a group effort to function effectively as opposed to the past dominant role of managers. Behavioral science knowledge is making the same big strides in growth as that of the physical sciences. As behavioral science becomes more subtle and sophisticated it enables skillful users to transform systems to be much more specific and effective than ever before.

Leadership that is geared through one's personal advancement is not as productive as that which moves the entire group. No one knows all the answers but leaders are comfortable managing the information that is available to all so as to stimulate insight and response from the group. The interconnection between leaders and employers must be as rational as both can make it to be. Positive behavioral modeling will enable leadership to move with deftness. Excellent behavioral modeling in the role of leadership stimulates emulation and cooperation. As the complexity of knowledge and technology increases it can become a means of a more humanistic form of management rather than direct ordering.

Readers can be stimulated to think deeply about leadership in all its many aspects so that productivity is achieved through group action instead of just personal performance.