81 Inspirational Employee Engagement Quotes

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These days, it feels like every time we log in to social media, we’re greeted by a motivational quote paired with a stunning image. But do these quotes actually inspire, or simply annoy? Judging by how often they’re shared, there’s clearly something powerful about them. The truth is, it’s all about context. A few well-chosen words can genuinely inspire and motivate employees when used correctly. In this post, we focus on employee engagement quotations, exploring when and how to use them effectively. Read on for creative ways to leverage employee engagement quotes and for a ready-to-use collection you can share with your team.

When To Use Employee Engagement Quotes

Inspirational quotes that capture moods, ambitions, or company values can be powerful tools for employee engagement. When used strategically, they can spark motivation, reinforce company culture, and remind staff that their work truly matters.

Use employee engagement quotes to recognize achievements or inspire action, for example, featuring a “quote of the day” on your intranet homepage. These simple touches can boost morale and make the digital workspace feel more human and uplifting.

Another smart way to use employee engagement quotes is to enhance company communications. Whether launching a new engagement strategy, updating internal policies, or delivering a town hall presentation, weaving in relevant quotes can make your message more memorable and authentic.

And if you’re trying to convince skeptical managers of the importance of employee engagement, a few thought-provoking quotes from respected leaders can help illustrate the tangible benefits and shift perspectives.

When Not To Use Employee Engagement Quotes

As with most things, moderation is key. Overusing motivational quotes can have the opposite effect, causing employees to tune out or view the messages as inauthentic. Just like scrolling through endless “inspirational” posts on social media, too much of a good thing can quickly become background noise.

To keep your quotes effective, be selective and intentional. Choose quotes that are relevant, meaningful, and aligned with your company culture. When used sparingly, they’ll carry far more weight and genuinely resonate with your team.

Best Employee Engagement Quotes

To make things easy, we’ve compiled a comprehensive collection of employee engagement quotes organized by theme. Whether you’re crafting an internal newsletter, updating your intranet, or creating a motivational presentation, you’ll find the perfect quote to match every occasion.

Motivational Quotes On The Importance Of Employee Engagement

This selection of quotes nicely sums up why employee engagement is so important. Use them to illustrate your employee engagement strategy or win over skeptical managers’ hearts and minds. And post these quotes on the intranet newsfeed to provide confirmation of the priority you attach to employee engagement.

1. If you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood, sweat, and tears. Simon Sinek, author

2. Turned on people figure out how to beat the competition. Turned off people only complain about being beaten by the competition. Ben Simonton, leadership skills coach

3. Employee engagement is an investment we make for the privilege of staying in business. Ian Hutchinson, motorcycle racer

4. When employees join executives in truly owning the responsibility for business success, an exciting new sense of teamwork takes hold. Punit Renjen, CEO Deloitte

5. Creating a strong company culture isn’t just good business. It’s the right thing to do, and it makes your company better for all stakeholders – employees, management, and customers. Julia Hartz, co-founder, and CEO of Eventbrite

6. Dispirited, unmotivated, unappreciated workers cannot compete in a highly competitive world. Frances Hesselbein, former CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA

7. Employee engagement is the extent to which your employees feel connected to and motivated by the work that they do. Janine N. Truitt, Chief Innovations Officer, Talent Think Innovations

8. In the current volatile and uncertain environment, engaged employees are an essential component not just for success but perhaps for survival. Nigel Paine, broadcaster and author

9. Employee Engagement is about the willingness of people to be responsible for more than their own job. People who are engaged go the extra mile. David Ducheyne, author and speaker

10. By letting your employees grow, your company will also grow exponentially. Mark Samraj, author

Quotes For Employees’ Motivation

Give employee motivation a boost with this selection of employee engagement quotes. Why not post them on your intranet’s team chat under a Monday motivator #channel. And get workers in the right mindset at the start of the working week.

11. You don’t have to be great at something to start, but you have to start to be great at something. Zig Ziglar, author, and motivational speaker

12. For every failure, there’s an alternative course of action. You just have to find it. When you come to a roadblock, take a detour. Mary Kay Ash, businesswoman, and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

13. …you have to want to be engaged. There has to be a deep-seated desire in your heart and mind to participate, to be involved, and to make a difference. If the desire isn’t there, no person or book can plant it within you. Tim Clark, president of Emirates

14. Throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours. Dale Carnegie, writer, and lecturer

15. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple

16. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit. Aristotle, Greek philosopher

17. Employees don’t need to be best friends, but there does need to be a level of mutual respect and understanding. Kathryn Minshew, CEO, and co-founder of The Muse

18. Do not be embarrassed by your failures; learn from them and start again. Sir Richard Branson, entrepreneur and founder of Virgin Group

19. It is better to be a stepping stone than a stumbling block. Mark Samraj, author

20. Nothing is impossible; the word itself says, “I’m possible!” Audrey Hepburn, actress and humanitarian

21. The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team. Phil Jackson, former professional basketball player

22. You can’t let your failures define you. You have to let your failures teach you. Barack Obama, former US president

Employee Engagement Quotes For Managers

Managers can make or break employee engagement. Gallup estimates that managers account for  70% of the variance in levels of team engagement. Getting your managers on board with employee engagement is critical to success. Use this selection of quotes to remind managers about the benefits of employee engagement and the central role they have to play.

23. To win in the marketplace, you must first win in the workplace. Doug Conant, former CEO of Campbell’s Soup

24. The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things. Ronald Reagen, former US president

25. Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole person – not just an employee – are more productive, more satisfied, more fulfilled. Satisfied employees mean satisfied customers, which leads to profitability. Anne Mulcahy, former CEO of Xerox

26. There are only three measurements that tell you nearly everything you need to know about your organization’s overall performance: employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and cash flow. It goes without saying that no company, small or large, can win over the long run without energized employees who believe in the mission and understand how to achieve it. Jack Welch, former CEO of GE1

27. A company can advertise and market like mad about who they are and what they believe in, but in today’s world, it’s the people on the front line who are ultimately defining the reputation of the business. And the reputation of your business, let’s face it, is really the brand. Shane Green, author and business consultant

28. Highly engaged employees make the customer experience. Disengaged employees break it. Timothy R. Clark, founder, and CEO of LeaderFactor

29. Every company has a culture. The question is whether it’s the culture that you want. Is it the culture that is going to be able to deliver great guest experiences? Shane Green, author and business consultant

30. Employee engagement is the emotional commitment the employee has to the organization and its goals. Kevin Kruse, author

31. It all came down to employee engagement. It all came down to recognition. It all came down to leadership, which led to every sailor feeling ownership and accountability for the results. You can ask a team to accomplish a mission, but you can’t order. Mike Abrashoff, Commander USS Benfold (retired)

32. Create caring and robust connections between every employee and their work, customers, leaders, managers, and the organization to achieve results that matter to everyone in this sentence. David Zinger, employee engagement expert

33. To build a culture of engagement, it is important to incorporate training on intrinsic motivation and employee engagement into management development programs. Kenneth Thomas, academic

34. Always treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers. Steven R. Covey, educator and author

35. Employees aren’t just workers, they’re the backbone of the business, and that makes them more important than the boss any day of the week. Good Employees = Good Business. Kilroy J. Oldster, author

36. Your assets are your employees. Invest more on those performing well. Let the non-performers go. Manoj Arora, IT executive, and writer

37. The role of the CEO is to enable people to excel, help them discover their own wisdom, engage themselves entirely in their work, and accept responsibility for making change. Mokokoma Mokhonoana, author

38. Everyone talks about building a relationship with your customer. I think you build one with your employees first. Angela Ahrendts, former senior vice president of retail at Apple Inc

39. If you fulfill the wishes of your employees, the employees will fulfill your visions. Amit Kalantri, author

40. Employee engagement is the art and science of engaging people in authentic and recognized connections to strategy, roles, performance, organization, community, relationship, customers, development, energy, and happiness to leverage, sustain, and transform work into results. David Zinger, employee engagement expert

41. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of your customers and your business will take care of itself. J. Willard Marriott, founder of the Marriott Corporation

Employee Retention Quotes

One of the many benefits of employee engagement is that workers tend to stick around longer in highly engaged workplaces. Hanging on to top-quality, high-performing staff is a no-brainer for any business. Use these quotes to reinforce the message and highlight the link between employee engagement and staff turnover.

42. You’ll attract the employees you need if you can explain why your mission is compelling: not why it’s important in general, but why you’re doing something important that no one else is going to get done. Peter Thiel, entrepreneur, co-founder of PayPal

43. Research indicates that workers have three prime needs: interesting work, recognition for doing a good job, and being let in on things that are going on in the company. Zig Ziglar, author, and motivational speaker

44. Connect the dots between individual roles and the goals of the organization. When people see that connection, they get a lot of energy out of work. They feel the importance, dignity, and meaning in their jobs. Ken Blanchard, author

45. I think when people say they dread going into work on Monday morning, it’s because they know they are leaving a piece of themselves at home. Why not see what happens when you challenge your employees to bring all of their talents to their job and reward them not for doing it just like everyone else, but for pushing the envelope, being adventurous, creative, and open-minded, and trying new things? Tony Hsieh, entrepreneur and CEO of Zappos

46. Paychecks can’t buy passion. Brad Federman, author, speaker, and consultant

47. For most of them, it can be summed up by one of four things: They love what they do (their JOB), they love the Disney brand (their ORGANIZATION), they love their manager (their BOSS), or they love the people they work with (their SQUAD). Pete Blank, keynote speaker, and former Disney University leader

48. We think it’s important for employees to have fun… it drives employee engagement. Tony Hsieh, entrepreneur and CEO of Zappos

49. Employees engage with employers and brands when they’re treated as humans worthy of respect. Meghan Biro, founder, and CEO at TalentCulture

50. When leaders throughout an organization take an active, genuine interest in the people they manage, when they invest real time to understand employees at a fundamental level, they create a climate for greater morale, loyalty, and, yes, growth. Patrick Lencioni, author

51. Employees are a company’s greatest asset – they’re your competitive advantage. You want to attract and retain the best; provide them with encouragement, stimulus, and make them feel that they are an integral part of the company’s mission. Anne Mulcahy, former CEO of Xerox

52. Employee loyalty begins with employer loyalty. Your employees should know that if they do the job they were hired to do with a reasonable amount of competence and efficiency, you will support them. Harvey Mackay, businessman, and author

53. In a nursery, if you don’t take care of those plants, your profits get lost real quickly. You have to weed. You have to water. You have to nurture. Also, you have to take care of your employees in such a way that they do the same. Jack Dangermond, businessman and environmental scientist

54. Of the top 10 sources of innovation, employees are the only resource that you can control and access that your competitors cannot. Employees are the one asset you have that can actually be a sustainable competitive advantage. Kaihan Krippendorff, business strategist, and keynote speaker

55. It’s about getting the best people, retaining them, nurturing a creative environment, and helping to find a way to innovate. Marissa Mayer, former CEO of Yahoo!

56. Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without [integrity], you really want them to be dumb and lazy. Warren Buffett, chairman, and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway

57. We can never fall short when it comes to recruiting, hiring, maintaining, and growing our workforce. It is the employees who make our organization’s success a reality. Vern Dosch, former president, National Information Solutions Cooperative

Treat Your Employees Right Quotes

Did you know that 40 percent of US workers would put more energy into their jobs if they were recognized more? Or that 82 percent of American professionals feel they are not adequately recognized for their contributions? As one of the main drivers for employee engagement, showing the team some love makes good business sense. These quotes will reinforce that critical message.

58. Appreciate everything your associates do for the business. Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise. They’re absolutely free and worth a fortune. Sam Walton, entrepreneur, and businessman who founded Walmart

59. Everyone wants to be appreciated, so if you appreciate someone, don’t keep it a secret. Mary Kay Ash, businesswoman, and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

60. Your mission statement, vision statement, core values, and service standards provide a clear focus for all while keeping your team humble and hungry. It creates that family environment in which your employees enjoy coming to work and dealing with the challenges they face each day. Amber Hurdle, brand strategy and leadership consultant

61. Culture is about performance, and making people feel good about how they contribute to the whole. Tracy Streckenbach, operating partner, Gridiron Capital LLC

62. Everyone enjoys doing the kind of work for which he is best suited. Napoleon Hill, author

63. When people go to work, they shouldn’t have to leave their hearts at home. Betty Bender, author

64. People want to know they matter, and they want to be treated as people. That’s the new talent contract. Pamela Stroko, vice president at Oracle Corporation

65. The way to develop the best that is in a man is by appreciation and encouragement. Charles Schwab, founder, and chairman of the Charles Schwab Corporation

66. I have always believed that the way you treat your employees is the way they will treat your customers and that people flourish when they are praised. Sir Richard Branson, entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin Group

67. If you do not treat people with the respect they deserve, do not expect any kind of commitment to your productivity goals and target. Ian Fuhr, author

68. The way your employees feel is the way your customers feel. And if your employees don’t feel valued, neither will your customers. Sybil F. Streschic, author

69. Take time to appreciate employees, and they will reciprocate in a thousand ways. Bob Nelson, comedian, and actor

70. The simple act of paying positive attention to people has a great deal to do with productivity. Tom Peters, author

Our Favorite Quotes

71. The greatest asset of a company is its people. Jorge Paulo Lemann, cofounder of Banco Garantia

72. Employees are the heart of any company; nurturing their growth leads to a flourishing organization.Dax Bamania, entrepreneur

73. On what high-performing companies should be striving to create: A great place for great people to do great work. Marilyn Carlson, businesswoman

74. When people are happy and well, businesses can thrive and societies flourish. Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

75. Culture is about performance, and making people feel good about how they contribute to the whole. Tracy Streckenbach, businesswoman

76. Your number one customers are your people. Look after employees first and then customers last. Ian Hutchinson, author

77. The key element of engagement is trust; building trust requires companies to provide workers with as much autonomy and flexibility as possible. Matt Charney, businessman

78.  Environments that support their employees in the right way will naturally foster employee engagement. Aaron Tucker, executive

79. When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute. Simon Sinek, author and speaker

80. While you’re going through this process of trying to find the satisfaction in your work, pretend you feel satisfied. Tell yourself you had a good day. Walk through the corridors with a smile rather than a scowl. Your positive energy will radiate. If you act like you’re having fun, you’ll find you are having fun. Jean Chatzky, journalist

81. This is the real secret of life, to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play. Alan Wilson Watts, writer and speaker

Employee Engagement Quote – Bill Gates

We’ve saved perhaps the best quote for last. When it comes to employee engagement, the responsibility for driving meaningful change lies squarely with business leaders and managers. Bill Gates perfectly captures this leadership philosophy with the following timeless words:

“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.”

Employee Engagement Videos

If you’re looking for additional sources of inspiration and motivation, explore our top 30 employee engagement videos. This curated list includes everything from expert TED-style talks and explainer animations to humor-filled clips that engage and educate. Video is not only one of the most effective communication channels in today’s workplace, but also one of the most memorable.

According to one study, employees are far more likely to retain a message when delivered through video compared to text alone. Combine employee engagement videos with motivational quotes, and you’ll create a powerful one-two punch that reinforces your company culture and values.

Employee Engagement Quotes: Takeaway Message

Employee engagement quotations are a valuable, low-cost tool to boost morale and inspire positive change across your organization. Used wisely, they can motivate employees, encourage collaboration, and even spark innovation in the workplace. More than just words, they’re reminders of what your company stands for and what success looks like when everyone is engaged.

There’s a lot at stake. Top-performing companies across every industry share one critical factor: high employee engagement. Consider these statistics that underline the impact:

• Companies with highly engaged teams are 21% more profitable.
• Disengaged employees cost U.S. businesses up to $550 billion annually.
• Employees who feel their voice is heard are six times more likely to feel empowered to perform at their best.

Don’t let your organization fall behind. Build a culture of engagement by developing your own library of motivational employee engagement quotes that you can draw from for meetings, newsletters, and intranet updates.

Want to discover how to improve engagement company-wide? MyHub’s cloud-based intranet solutions can transform your internal communications, streamline knowledge sharing, and connect employees like never before, all in one easy-to-manage platform.

Contact us today for a free demo or a 14-day no-obligation trial and explore how MyHub can help boost your employee engagement.

FAQ Section

Why use employee engagement quotes at work?

Because well-chosen quotes can summarise values, inspire teams, reinforce culture, and provide quick, shareable prompts for recognition or reflection.

When should you display or share engagement quotes?

They’re most effective when inserted into meaningful contexts — for example in a Monday intranet post, during a team recognition moment, at the start of a change initiative, or alongside an engagement campaign.

Can over-using quotes backfire?

Yes — if quotes are used too often, without relevance, or without follow-up action, they can seem hollow or become background noise. The article warns that context and sincerity matter.

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