Diagnose Motivation. Unlock Team Performance.

About the Framework

Motivational Pyramid Stack (MPS) is a diagnostic framework created by Jay Nelson, born of the need to help teams and leaders identify and resolve the foundational, interpersonal, and cognitive challenges that erode motivation and block sustained performance.

Core Benefits:

• Strengthens Leadership Awareness with Clear Insight to Improve Team Performance

• Diagnoses the Real Root Causes of Low Motivation

• Enables Better Team Workflow and Focus by Revealing & Reducing Hidden Friction
  

The 3 Layers

I. Foundational Layer

At the base of the Motivational Pyramid Stack (MPS) lies Engagement & Empowerment - the essential conditions that support trust, motivation, and team resilience. When neglected, these issues quietly erode performance and psychological safety from the ground up. Without it, even the best strategies above will wobble.

The foundational layer focuses on:

• Lack of Skills Development & Creative Opportunities

• Negative Internal Team Dynamics & Working Agreement Disempowerment

• Misunderstanding Communication Preferences & Styles

• Lack of Voice in Discussions: Psychological Safety & Feedback Loop

II. Middle Layer

The middle layer focuses on Communication Breakdowns and Leadership Gaps that disrupt team cohesion and product engagement.

These gaps often emerge when vision, empathy, and feedback loops are missing — creating friction between leadership and production teams. This layer reveals how misaligned leadership and unclear communication can stall progress, dilute motivation, and weaken trust across teams.

The middle layer focuses on:

• Lack of Clear Vision & Outcome Alignment

• Disconnection from Technical Feedback & Customer Needs

• Ineffective Leadership & Empathy Gaps

• Low Product Engagement & Ownership

III. Top Layer

At the peak of the Motivational Pyramid Stack sits Intellectual Burden — the Burnout Catalyst that quietly drains energy from high-performing teams. This layer represents the mental overload that accumulates from constant context switching, creative strain, and cognitive demands.

The top layer focuses on:

• High Cognitive Load

• Creative Work Without Recovery

• Frequent Context Switching

These stressors often emerge subtly, but once they reach a tipping point, they suppress innovation and accelerate burnout. Addressing this layer means protecting mental bandwidth, pacing creative demands, and designing workflows that allow for recovery and focus.

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How to Conduct the Workshop

The MPS (Motivational Pyramid Stack) workshop helps teams and leaders uncover hidden friction, diagnose motivation challenges, and redesign their collaborative processes.

Whether you're running a team-wide session, a leadership roundtable, or an individual session, the MPS Framework provides the structure to surface insights and drive meaningful change.



Steps to conduct a workshop:

• Duration: 30-45 minutes

• Participants: Teams, Leaders, or Cross-functional groups

• Materials: MPS Workshop Worksheets (3), pens, & sticky notes

• Flow:

  • Reflect

  • List Actionable Solutions

  • List Outcomes or Desired Behaviors

• Book Me To Speak

• Book Me for a Workshop

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