Managing a high-stakes software project requires balancing motivation and risk mitigation effectively ??. Keep the team engaged by setting clear goals, recognizing achievements, and fostering a sense of ownership over their work ??. Break the project into manageable milestones, celebrating small wins to maintain momentum ??. To mitigate risks, conduct regular assessments to identify potential roadblocks early ??, implement agile methodologies for flexibility, and maintain transparent communication ??. Encourage collaboration and provide the necessary support, ensuring the team remains focused and confident despite challenges ??. A motivated, well-prepared team is key to delivering a successful project on time and within scope.

@Ahmad Hasaan Ullah comment is right. what can i add here is recognize the team effort and individual to feel them important. Ask question instead of direct order. Motivate theme by phrasing as a challenge. Let see if we can finish this project with 90 percen code quality. This are just sample to win them.

It is extremely important that people working on the project know that their contributions are being recognized and appreciated. It goes a VERY long way to have the senior most sponsor you can get to pop into a team status call, show up in person during a go-live with some pizza and kind words, and to get the sponsor to send out some "thank you very much" notes and emails to people. (Even if you need to prompt the leaders to do this.) People remember how you make them feel, make them feel appreciated!