Building a high-performing team has always been part art, part science. But today, artificial intelligence is tipping the balance by bringing smarter tools and sharper insights into how we attract, assess, and align talent. From hiring decisions to team dynamics, AI is helping leaders understand people better and build stronger, more effective teams.
Let’s take a closer look at how AI, and tools like McQuaig Maven, are transforming the way organizations create high-performing teams from the inside out.
Understanding people beyond the resume
Most hiring processes still start with resumes and interviews, but let’s face it—those only show part of the picture. AI-powered tools can analyze patterns in assessments and behavioral data to give you a fuller view of who someone is, how they work, and where they’re most likely to thrive.
Maven, McQuaig’s AI assistant, helps translate these insights into action. For example, once a candidate completes the McQuaig Word Survey or Job Survey, Maven can instantly provide tailored interview questions, highlight areas of alignment with the current team, and even flag gaps where coaching may be needed down the road. This makes it easier to move beyond surface-level impressions and get to what really matters—fit, communication style, learning agility, and potential.
Creating stronger alignment from day one
Alignment is the secret sauce of high-performing teams. When people are working toward the same goals, with complementary strengths and clear expectations, things click. AI helps leaders design teams with intention—matching people not only to roles but to one another.
With tools like TeamSync and Maven, you can quickly see how different personalities and work styles might interact. Are two team members likely to clash or collaborate? Who’s naturally detail-oriented, and who’s more big-picture? AI turns those data points into practical insights, helping you build teams that balance each other out and function more cohesively.
Accelerating onboarding and growth
Getting someone into a role is just the beginning. High-performing teams are made when people are onboarded with clarity, coached with purpose, and given opportunities to grow. AI can support all three.
Maven helps leaders move faster with confidence. Want to tailor a new hire’s onboarding to their preferred communication style or strengths? Done. Need to coach someone based on feedback from their 360 review? Maven can select relevant development suggestions instantly. By making people data more accessible and actionable, AI removes the guesswork and helps every team member hit the ground running.
Supporting managers with real-time coaching help
Let’s be honest, people leadership isn’t easy. Even the best managers can struggle with how to support or redirect a team member. This is where AI really shines.
Maven acts like a leadership sidekick, helping managers translate assessment data into everyday actions. Whether it’s a tough conversation, a stretch assignment, or a plan to re-engage someone who’s struggling, Maven offers research-backed ideas tailored to each person’s unique behavioral profile. It’s like having a coach in your pocket without the time drain or cost.
Making feedback more meaningful
In high-performing teams, feedback flows freely. But many organizations still struggle to make that feedback structured, useful, and personal. AI can bridge the gap by turning raw feedback into focused action.
Let’s say a leader completes the McQuaig 360 Leadership Review. Rather than combing through pages of open-ended comments or complex data, Maven can pull out key patterns, highlight strengths and blind spots, and suggest concrete development goals. That makes feedback easier to understand and more likely to be acted on.
Reducing bias, increasing fairness
One of the most powerful promises of AI in talent decisions is its ability to reduce unconscious bias, at least when used responsibly. By standardizing how data is collected and interpreted, AI can help organizations make decisions based on evidence, not gut feel.
With McQuaig’s tools, assessments are backed by decades of scientific research and have strong reliability and validity psychometrics. And with Maven interpreting those results through a consistent lens, you can compare candidates or team members more objectively. That leads to fairer, more inclusive decisions that actually work better for the business, too.
The human side of high performance
Of course, AI doesn’t replace the human side of leadership. It enhances it. The best teams are built on trust, communication, and shared purpose—and those things still come from people, not platforms.
But when AI helps you see your people more clearly, support them more effectively, and make better-informed decisions, the result is a team that’s more aligned, engaged, and ready to perform.
Final thoughts
AI isn’t a magic solution but it is a powerful ally. With the right tools, like McQuaig’s Maven, you can unlock deeper insights into your people and create the conditions for real, sustainable performance. Whether you’re building a new team, developing leaders, or supporting growth, AI can help you do it smarter, faster, and with greater impact.
High-performing teams aren’t built by accident. They’re built by design. And today, that design is getting a whole lot smarter.