Resources and activities

Research to explore. Ideas to put into practice.

Making research accessible and useful is central to our work at Synact. These activities translate ideas from social and organisational psychology into experiences that invite reflection, challenge assumptions and open up conversations about leadership and working together.

Interactive activity · Research participation

Best vs Worst Leaders

Think of your best boss. Now your worst. What separates them?

Reflect on your experiences of leadership through a short survey about leaders and working life.

You can also use the activity within your organisation to spark conversations about leadership and working together. Email Blake to request access.

Take part · About 5 minutes Request access for your organisation

About the research: This activity forms part of a University of Queensland research study. Participation is voluntary. You can read the full participant information when you open the activity, before deciding whether to take part. UQ ethics approval: 2026/HE010041.

View example results
Best leaders: scatterplot of leader identity and identity leadership, 727 responses. Mean leader identity 24.9; mean identity leadership 34.7. Worst leaders: scatterplot of leader identity and identity leadership, 727 responses. Mean leader identity 35.4; mean identity leadership 10.0.
Example results from the Best vs Worst Leaders activity. Select either image to view it at full size in a new tab.

Facilitated card game

Zombie Leaders

They work among us.

Welcome to Happy Days Corporation. Hidden roles, competing interests and questionable leadership put the organisation’s future in your hands. Whom will you trust?

Explore power, trust and group dynamics through play, then unpack what happened. The game brings research on leadership and social identity into conversations about organisational life.

  • 8–25 players
  • One facilitator
  • Play and discussion
Explore Zombie Leaders
Zombie Leaders Action Card artwork showing zombie executives at Happy Days Corporation. Zombie Leaders Axiom Card artwork showing two figures studying Secrets of Zombie Leadership. Zombie Leaders Role Card artwork showing a recruitment gathering at Happy Days Corporation.
Role, Action and Axiom cards from Zombie Leaders.

© Alex Haslam, Nik Steffens, Tarli Young, Zoe Walter & Blake McMillan