Team Building Activities with a Robot: Ideas That Bring Teams Together

Why include a robot in team building

Team building is meant to take people out of their everyday roles and give them a shared experience. A humanoid robot brings two things to the table: a moment of surprise that gets everyone on the same wavelength, and a natural conversation topic – technology, automation and how work is changing.

It is also worth being clear about what a robot is not at a team building event: an all-day entertainer or a competition station running without breaks. It performs in shorter appearances with breaks in between, and an operator controls it at all times. That is why we build the programme around a few well-timed moments.

Opening the programme: a tech demo instead of a long speech

The start of a team building day decides whether people relax. A short robot entrance at the opening signals that today will be different from an ordinary meeting. If you want to open the topic of robotics and artificial intelligence, the opening can take the form of a short technology demo linked to your host or facilitator.

The demo can lead straight into a discussion run by your trainer: what the team would like to automate, where they see the role of people and how their work might change in a few years. The robot serves as a springboard – the content of the debate stays with you and your facilitator.

• a short robot entrance with music right after the opening
• an introduction from the host that picks up on the robot
• a discussion question for teams: which part of their work would they hand over to technology
• a group photo with the robot to start the day

Team activities with a robot: a dance challenge and a photo task

In the competitive part of your team building, the robot can feature in a dance challenge or a photo task. We always agree the exact format based on the size of the group, the space and the schedule. Guests join in the dance following the crew's instructions, and the crew keeps a safe distance.

1. The brief

   The host splits participants into teams and explains the task – for example, shooting the funniest short video or coming up with a team pose for a photo with the robot.

2. Team preparation

   Teams have time to work out their choreography or pose while the robot takes a break backstage.

3. Dance challenge

   The robot performs the agreed number and teams gradually join in following the crew's instructions; everything is filmed.

4. Photo task

   Each team takes a photo with the robot in its pose; the operator manages the order and distance.

5. Announcing the winners

   Announce the winning video or photo in the evening – participants can vote themselves.

The evening: a dance number to round off the day

After a full day of activities comes dinner and free time. A dance appearance by the robot at the evening party opens the dance floor and gives the day a strong finish. It works well right after the results of the team activities are announced, when the whole group is together.

We agree the entrance with the DJ or band: who gives the cue, what music the robot performs to and how the dance set follows. Music rights must be cleared – the music is usually played by the DJ or sound engineer.

Team building away from the office: boats, hotels and off-sites

Team building events often take place in unusual locations – on a boat, on a tram, in a hotel or at an off-site retreat outside the city. The robot can perform there, but the route and space need to be assessed in advance. What matters is a level, firm surface, an access route without stairs, clear space around the robot, and a backstage area for preparation and breaks with access to power.

For off-site events, plan transport and backstage facilities early. Distance and event length are reflected in the quote. Outdoor parts of the programme – in a hotel garden, for example – are assessed separately by the production team; a stage or covered area is ideal, together with an agreed alternative in case of bad weather.

• send photos or a floor plan of the space where the robot will perform
• check with the venue where the crew's backstage area will be
• verify the access route – we assess stairs and narrow passages in advance
• agree who on your side coordinates the programme on site

What not to forget when preparing

Team building events usually involve several suppliers – the venue, catering, a host, trainers and technical crew. To make the robot programme fit the whole, connect us early with whoever coordinates the schedule and venue for you. On site, a short rehearsal is enough to go through the entrance, cues and the handover to the host.

Think about photos and videos as well. If you want to use content from the event in internal communication or on your company's social channels, agree the key moments with the photographer and respect participants who do not want to appear on camera.

• the day's schedule with times of the main programme points
• contacts for the venue coordinator, host and DJ
• a description of the space and the access route
• whether a photographer or videographer will be on site
• music for the performance, with rights cleared

How to plan team building with a robot

To propose a programme, we need to know the type of event, the date, the venue, the approximate number of participants and a rough schedule for the day. From that, we will suggest at which moments the robot should perform and how many short appearances make sense. RobotShow prepares programmes for events across the Czech Republic, and events abroad are handled individually. The price is always quoted individually.

Not sure yet which format suits your team? Send a no-obligation inquiry via the English site, tell us a little about your group and your plans, and we will work out the details together.