How I Learned to Keep Teams Motivated (and Happy)
Posted on September 23, 2025 by Roy Shapira, One of Thousands of Relationship Coaches on Noomii.
Leader with 20+ years in tech & gaming, building motivated teams through security, belonging, recognition & growth. Happy teams = results.
In 20+ years of leading teams across tech, gaming, and entertainment, one pattern stood out:
Projects often start strong, with energy at 110%. But soon, momentum drops, people lose motivation, and some start looking for the exit.
I made it my mission to solve this problem. The answer, I found, lies in a principle first laid out by Abraham Maslow in 1943: human motivation builds in layers. When I began applying this framework to team leadership, the results were transformational.
1. Security First
People can’t focus if they’re worried about basics.
- Pay on time.
- Ensure role stability, even during crunch.
- Encourage healthy work habits (yes, sometimes leaders need to remind their teams to sleep and eat).
2. Belonging Matters
Teams thrive when they feel connected. That means hiring for positivity and synergy, not just skill.
- Use structured recruitment with short, meaningful tests.
- Integrate new hires gradually to check cultural fit.
- Create clear communication paths—technical issues go to leads, personal issues to producers.
3. Recognition Drives Excellence
Motivation soars when contributions are seen and celebrated.
- Highlight great work in team meetings.
- Reinforce words with deeds: milestone bonuses, holiday breaks, and public appreciation.
- Watch for overwork—motivation without balance leads to burnout.
4. Growth Unlocks Potential
The highest form of motivation is growth.
- Give people agency in their craft.
- Let them set their own timelines (with buffer).
- Assign stretch tasks just beyond their comfort zone, with guidance.
- Over time, they don’t just complete tasks—they become leaders in their own right.
The Result
When people feel secure, connected, recognized, and challenged, motivation becomes self-sustaining. Teams stay engaged, bring friends aboard, and push projects forward—not out of obligation, but out of passion.
A happy team isn’t just easier to manage.
It’s the ultimate competitive advantage.
