It only took Ted Lasso one word to unite his team: Believe. But when it comes to finding inspirational quotes for employees, there are many words to choose from. As the great (albeit fictional) coach knew, words are powerful. Finding the right motivational quotes for your employees not only drives inspiration, but it enforces company values and sparks team unity. That’s why it might not be a bad idea for you to discover which inspirational quotes are best suited to your employees.
Why it’s important to inspire and motivate employees
If you think inspirational quotes for employees sound cheesy, then you might be undervaluing the power of motivation. Elevating motivation brings employee engagement benefits such as improving company culture and employee retention. This leads to the creation of motivated teams that work harder.
According to Gallup, highly engaged teams have a 21% increase in business profitability. Engaged employees perform better, are more dedicated to their teams, and are less likely to leave their companies. And the key to unlocking employee engagement is motivation.
When employees are united and inspired by words delivered by their manager, they gain new drive and focus. And let’s face it — sometimes we can’t say things quite as eloquently as poets like Maya Angelou. So why not turn to inspirational quotes to drive employee motivation and increase teamwork and productivity?
And here’s the truth — even if inspirational quotes for employees are cheesy, why not lean into them? Sometimes powerful words are needed to motivate and inspire. Just consider the moon speech from JFK if you need an example of the power of words. On the other hand, a little bit of cheese might be necessary to encourage team bonding and unite a company.
The great thing is that you can choose the tone of your inspiring work quotes for employees. Are you ready to explore your options? Because there are six quote categories intended to motivate workforces ranging from laidback to suit-and-tie. The key uniters are inspiration and motivation.
5 best motivational quotes for employees
Motivational quotes for employees help employees go the extra mile and persevere through tough times. However, motivational quotes for employees from managers have even more power, as managers are the people best positioned to guide and lead teams. The following quotes are perfect for leadership to use to motivate employees. These quotes are focused on success and determination and are directed at fostering employee ownership and self-motivation.
1. You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.
This quote by former US President Abraham Lincoln encompasses the importance of avoiding procrastination and handling tasks promptly. It aligns perfectly with the company value of ownership.
2. The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
Seeking inspirational quotes for hard-working employees? This quote from Walt Disney cuts to the chase and makes it clear that action is a top company priority.
3. When you play, play hard; when you work, don’t play at all.
Former US President Theodore Roosevelt dropped this quote — and you will soon see that he has said many employee motivation quotes. Roosevelt was an expert at delivering focused, powerful statements that conveyed the ethics of work.
4. You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.
The employee motivation quote comes from American author Zig Zaglar, who is by far one of the top people to turn to for inspirational quotes. This quote cuts to to point: get started if you want to get there.
5. Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.
If you’re trying to motivate employees, this line is a real zinger for unlocking potential. Who said this quote? It has been attributed to a man named C. Archie Danielson, though it was previously tied to Salvador Dali (without evidence).
5 best inspiring work quotes for employees
While some work quotes should motivate, there are also inspiring work quotes for employees. The great thing about inspirational quotes for employees is that they can be selected to match your company’s values. Inspirational quotes for hard-working employees should reflect core values while also offering inspiration and positivity. Managers can deliver these quotes to create an environment of inspiration that aims to unlock creativity and innovation.
1. Failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.
This powerful quote, attributed to The Huffington Post mogul and author Arianna Huffington, reminds employees to not be discouraged by their failures. In turn, this embraces an environment of creativity and risk-seeking.
2. Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.
Famed basketball player Michael Jordan has many inspiring quotes, including this line offered by the sports legend to inspire people to not limit themselves.
3. You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.
This is another amazing quote by Michael Jordan that encourages team members to believe in themselves, focusing on both inspiration and building up individuals.
4. Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
This inspirational quote for hard-working employees encourages thinking outside of the box and being a motivated innovator rather than someone who sleeps through their life and waits for opportunities. Thomas A. Edison is to be thanked for this outstanding line.
5. Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.
This beautiful quote for unlocking employee inspiration is attributed to writer and retired bicycle racer Jamie Paolinetti.
5 best short motivational quotes for employees
Oftentimes, it doesn’t take a lot to bring motivation. While some quotes deliver power with their length, short motivational quotes for employees provide the same inspirational messages in easy-to-remember sentences or fragments. Having short inspirational work quotes for employees also provides the opportunity to present the quotes on the wall and regularly quote values to each other as enforcement of company values.
1. Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.
This famous Zig Zaglar line is widely quoted. Why? Because it uses three small phrases to deliver a powerful message for all employees: make the best of what you have, but position yourself for greatness no matter what happens.
2. Believe you can and you’re halfway there.
This simple yet profound quote from Theodore Roosevelt delivers a motivational message that many employees can relate to in just seven words.
3. Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.
If you’re a company that values honesty and integrity, this quote from Thomas Jefferson is ideal for promoting your philosophies and motivating the truth. This line is especially helpful to emphasize in the age of fake news.
4. Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.
This short quote from American industrialist and engineer Henry Ford emphasizes the value of always giving it your all in order to inspire teams to produce great-quality work.
5. Every second counts.
This three-word powerhouse is lifted from the popular TV show The Bear. While it’s perfect for those working in the service industry, this short motivational quote also delivers a message that any worker from comms to engineering can relate to: use your time wisely.
5 best appreciative motivational quotes for employees
Appreciative motivational quotes for employees are another angle to delivering inspirational quotes for a team. Managers can use quotes to show their employees they are valued. Appreciative motivational quotes for employees should focus on value while also delivering a powerhouse of inspiration to motivate better outcomes. Keep in mind that employees want to hear from their managers, as 43% of highly engaged employees receive feedback (or encouragement!) weekly according to Gallup.
1. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
This quote from the great American author Mark Twain demonstrates to your employees that with enough heart, grit, determination, and motivation, they can conquer any obstacle. It’s a perfect line for managers to share with their teams and show they believe in their workers.
2. Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.
Likewise, this quote from the great Helen Keller lets team members know that you see and acknowledge their struggles and want to imbue them with the strength and tools to rise from stressful predicaments.
3. By putting the employee first, the customer effectively comes first by default, and in the end, the shareholder comes first by default as well.
This is one appreciative motivational quote to share with upper management — but also make it known to employees. This line, delivered by business magnate Richard Branson, encompasses why the employee experience should always come first. These are wise words for strong companies to live by.
4. Take time to appreciate employees and they will reciprocate in a thousand ways.
Comedian Bob Nelson also offered wise words with this quote, which can also be shared with higher-level managers to emphasize the value of the team member experience.
5. The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.
Sharing this quote from the Dalai Lama reminds employees of the value of appreciation. It is also an excellent line to share with upper management so that they can share their appreciation with employees more often. Such a quote builds a positive, appreciative work environment.
Bonus material: Former Yum! Brands CEO Greg Creed has a lot to say about the employee experience and building strong teams on the Aspire to Inspire Podcast. As Greg says, The customer experience will never exceed the team-member experience.
5 best motivational quotes for employees teamwork
Overall, inspirational quotes for employees should have a clear objective. Delivering motivational quotes for employees with a teamwork focus brings team members together in a pull for unity and collaboration. The following inspirational quotes for employees emphasize a drive for valuing team member interactions. These quotes are perfect for companies that emphasize the team member element.
1. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.
Did you guess who said this quote? Yep, once again Michael Jordan delivered a powerful, motivating, and uniting line that is perfect for every situation from the basketball court to the office.
2. Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.
Late Apple founder Steve Jobs certainly knew great business, and his quote on teamwork emphasizes the importance of valuing the group over the individual for the best results.
3. You can have everything in life you want if you will just help other people get what they want.
Sharing this Zig Zaglar quote reminds employees of the value of helping others. It is perfect for companies that value the employee experience and seek to build up teams.
4. The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.
Theodore Roosevelt is a champion of delivering inspirational quotes for employees, and his words on success also reads as a motivational quote for employee teamwork.
5. Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.
This beautiful quote by American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou delivers a message of positivity perfect for companies that champion the values of optimism and unity.
5 best funny motivational quotes for employees
Now that we are at the tail end of our Inspirational quotes for employees list, it’s time to get to the best part — funny motivational quotes for employees. Motivational quotes for your employees don’t have to take themselves too seriously. For companies that have a more lighthearted spirit, managers can guide teams with funny motivational quotes that playfully champion inspiring values.
1. If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.
Have you heard this employee motivation quote before? It’s funny, clever, and inspirational — and delivered by Mark Twain.
2. The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.
This quote by famed American football coach Vince Lombardi offers a humorous take on employee motivation with the same takeaway as the other inspirational quotes for employees.
3. The road to success is always under construction.
American actress and comedian Lily Tomlin is attributed to this motivational albeit lighthearted quote that reminds employees that failures are to be expected along the way.
4. Whatever you do, always give 100% — unless you’re donating blood.
Trust actor and comedian Bill Murray to deliver a funny motivational quote for employees that is just a touch morbid.
5. It ain’t over ’til it’s over.
No inspirational quotes list — or quotes list in general — can conclude without a line from American baseball legend (and quote guru) Yogi Berra. This simple line nonetheless packs the oomph needed to keep teams motivated through tough times. (And for some added fun, check out these other Yogi Berra quotes.)
How to share inspirational work quotes for employees
Okay, so you’ve combed through the list of inspirational quotes for employees and selected the perfect phrase to guide your team or company. Now what? Inspirational work quotes for employees need to be distributed in a way that all employees see them and reap the benefits of the motivation.
Distribute your motivational work quotes for employees through your employee email and share them on branded communication channels on your company intranet and employee apps. Ensure that everyone can read the motivational lines and share in the camaraderie and momentum they are intended to build. You can also choose analog solutions and print inspirational quotes on posters to hang around the office or incorporate them into employee branding.
Not sure if your employee engagement strategy is working? Consider implementing employee engagement surveys to gauge the interest of your team or company. If you’re selecting an inspirational quote to represent your team, why not allow team members to vote on which line best fits them?
Closing words on inspirational quotes for employees
Inspirational quotes for employees come in many shapes and sizes — or more accurately, they are composed of varied tones and lengths. However, they all serve the same agenda: inspire, motivate, unite. Selecting an inspirational quote to guide your team not only enforces a select company value, but it provides a unifying phrase for team members to rally around. And there is plenty of freedom in choosing inspirational quotes for employees that range from powerhouse statements to funny lines. The most important thing is that the quote brings motivation to your team.