Background & Aims: The success of organizations today largely depends on effective leadership, which relies on influencing, guiding, directing, and mobilizing the activities of the organization, as well as on the beliefs and convictions of the employees. In the current competitive environment, leaders are compelled to be aware of new leadership approaches. Universities, as key institutions for the development of science and knowledge, play an irreplaceable role in the progress and development of societies. However, the rapid technological, social, and economic changes in recent decades have highlighted the need for innovative and effective leadership in universities. Traditional leadership models can no longer meet the challenges posed by the complex and diverse educational environments, and there is an increasing need for novel leadership models, such as quantum leadership. Quantum leadership provides a dynamic, open, and creative approach that enhances the effectiveness of managers and employees. This leadership style, based on making the best decisions in complex situations, requires quantum skills that enable leaders to think intuitively and dynamically. Quantum skills challenge leaders to rethink their cognitive models and ways of thinking. When leaders apply these skills, they develop greater confidence in change and become more receptive to continuous learning. Quantum leadership also focuses on creativity, innovation, trust, and change, encouraging the right actions in the organization. The presence and implementation of quantum leadership in organizations enhance the capability of employees and equip them with the knowledge necessary for their jobs. Strategies such as the formation of self-managed groups and providing feedback to managers and employees to prevent costly mistakes are part of quantum leadership. Therefore, quantum leadership can improve the effectiveness and capability of managers and employees. Quantum leadership skills play a crucial role in enhancing the psychological empowerment of university professors. This type of leadership, based on flexibility, creativity, and systems thinking, can strengthen professors' sense of meaning, competence, autonomy, and influence. Quantum leaders create a dynamic and open environment for exchanging ideas, encouraging professors to actively participate in decision-making and problem-solving. Additionally, these leaders' ability to manage organizational changes and complexities helps professors better cope with job challenges and have greater control over their work environment. These skills lead to improved self-confidence, increased creativity, and greater job satisfaction among professors, ultimately boosting their productivity and motivation. Despite the significance of quantum leadership, limited research has been conducted on its impact on the psychological empowerment of university professors. Most studies in this area have focused on business and industrial organizations and have paid little attention to educational environments. This calls for a more detailed investigation to identify the precise relationships and effects between these variables and to offer suitable strategies for improving university management. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the impact of quantum leadership skills on the psychological empowerment of university professors in Babol.
Methods: This mixed-method (qualitative and quantitative) study involved a qualitative sample of 20 professors from universities in Mazandaran Province, from which 11 were selected based on data saturation. The quantitative sample included 1,468 faculty members from universities in Babol, and a sample size of 302 was selected based on the Krejcie and Morgan table. Data collection in the qualitative phase involved semi-structured interviews with experts, while in the quantitative phase, researcher-designed questionnaires on quantum leadership skills and the Spreitzer and Mishra (1997) empowerment scale were used. Data analysis was performed using SPSS21 and PLS3.2 software.
Results: The results indicate that the development of quantum leadership skills in university administrators not only improves the psychological empowerment of professors but also enhances their motivation and productivity by fostering a positive organizational culture. The results further show that the impact of quantum leadership skills on psychological empowerment is statistically significant and strong, and strengthening these skills can help enhance professors' psychological capabilities.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that strengthening quantum leadership skills in university administrators not only has a positive effect on teaching and research performance but also enhances the psychological empowerment of professors. By creating an appropriate environmental context, fostering self-efficacy, and empowering professors psychologically, strengthening these skills can have lasting and significant effects on increasing productivity and motivation among faculty members. As a result, it appears that quantum leadership skills, as an effective factor in enhancing the psychological capabilities of professors, play a key role in the development of organizational and academic performance. These skills can help university administrators face challenges more effectively and create a suitable environment for enhancing the quality of teaching and research. Furthermore, strengthening these skills can improve organizational culture and promote a spirit of collaboration and participation among faculty members, ultimately contributing to the overall improvement of educational and research processes at universities.