Have you ever come across an inspirational quote when you were feeling down, frustrated, or plaintive? The perfect collection of words hit you right when you needed it most and lifted your mood. That’s the power of a good motivational quote — they assure us that someone else has been where we are and has some wisdom to share about it.
Inspirational quotes, whether they come from scholars, celebrities, professionals, historical figures, or even friends and family members, have the power to boost our spirits and change our perspectives for the better. This is why quotes are beneficial in the workplace, where we are prone to negative emotions. If you manage a team and want to keep them upbeat and free of self-doubt (yourself included), display the following kinds of quotes around your workplace:
Motivational Quotes
Motivational quotes give us a push when we need it. If you and your employees feel like your work isn’t paying off or that you can’t continue much longer, a helpful motivational catchphrase can go a long way toward inspiring you to try your best and pursue your goal.
“There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice.” — Michelle Obama
“Impossible is just an opinion.” — Paulo Coelho
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” — Michael Jordan
Encouraging Quotes
Encouraging quotes are similar to the motivational variety, but we can distinguish them because of their different tones: the latter is excellent for calls to action, and the former is suitable when we need a gentle push in the right direction.
“Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.” — Helen Keller
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” — Anne Frank
“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” — Kurt Cobain
Leadership Quotes
There is no rulebook for being a good leader, so managers often feel lost when they don’t know how to steer their teams in the right direction. You can use the following leadership quotes to motivate yourself or give the managers in your business a broader idea of what it means to be in charge.
“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Leading means running fast enough to keep ahead of your people.” — S.M. Stirling
“Leaders can let you fail and yet not let you be a failure.” — Stanley McChrystal
Birthday Quotes
You’re probably thinking, how are birthday quotes supposed to be inspiring? Everyone appreciates feeling, well, appreciated. Acknowledging your employees’ birthdays is an easy way to make them feel valued. Pick quotes like these to accompany birthday messages:
“Forget the past; look forward to the future, for the best things are yet to come.” — Unattributed
“Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.” — John Lennon
“Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift.” — Aretha Franklin
Friendship Quotes
Sometimes it’s our work friends who get us through the day. A genuine friendship between coworkers can benefit an entire organization, so encourage team building by reminding everyone of the importance of camaraderie with the following friendship quotes:
“Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.” — Misty Copeland
“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you; spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” — Amy Poehler
“Friends…they cherish one another’s hopes. They are kind to one another’s dreams.” — Henry David Thoreau
Funny Quotes
Never underestimate the power of funny quotes (admit it, you’ve spent time searching for nothing but funny sayings on the internet before). While not expressly inspirational, a funny quote at the right time can uplift people’s moods and boost employee engagement.
“I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.” — Lily Tomlin
“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they go by.” — Douglas Adams
“I have tried to know absolutely nothing about a great many things, and I have succeeded fairly well.” — Robert Benchley
Gratitude Quotes
Gratitude quotes are not to tell people they should stop complaining because they could have it worse. Instead, gratitude is about looking at the bright side of every situation and focusing on positive things, so we aren’t overwhelmed by the negative.
“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” — Melody Beattie
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” — Oprah Winfrey
“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” – Brené Brown
Quotes About Change
Change happens all the time, and our reactions to it — and the way we create it — can be defining for us. Quotes about change can help your team keep a healthy mindset whenever something at work is shifting or needs adjusting.
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” ― Barack Obama
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” — Albert Einstein
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” — George Bernard Shaw
Consider posting a quote of the day in your office or displaying a selection on TV screens with a digital signage app. Tools like Enplug’s Daily Motivation App or Startup Vitamins App provide users with a collection of hand-selected motivational quotes that bring inspiration to the office. Inspirational quotes can make a significant difference in your life and your team members’ lives.