21 Motivational Workplace Quotes

Use these inspiring and motivational workplace quotes to shape and promote a positive, encouraging company culture. We gathered the best motivational quotes on positive work attitude, innovation, employee engagement, leadership, company culture, recruitment and business success.

Looking for great workplace quotes?

If you’re looking for great workplace-related quotes, you’ve come to the right place.

In this blog post, we gathered the top 21 inspirational and motivational workplace quotes.

Use these quotes to motivate and inspire your employees and foster a positive and encouraging company culture.

➡️ If you’re looking for more great tips on managing employees and creating a positive company culture, check out our Short Leaderships Tips for Managers !

20+ best workplace-related quotes

Below you’ll find a list of the top 21 workplace quotes and sayings, including the names of each speaker or author.

These quotes are divided into 7 sections:

1. Positive work attitude
2. Business innovation
3. Employee engagement and productivity
4. Leadership
5. Company culture
6. Recruitment
7. Success.

We also created a colorful image for each quote. Feel free to take these images and use them any way you see fit.

Whether you want to enhance a team email or make your next meeting or presentation more impactful, we’ve got a quote for you.

Motivational workplace quotes on positive work attitude

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.”

– Winston Churchill, British politician, army officer and writer

"Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer."

– Denis Waitley, American motivational speaker, writer and consultant

“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”

– Bill Gates, Founder of Microsoft Corporation

Motivational workplace quotes on innovation

“If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.”

– Woody Allen, American director, writer, actor and comedian

“When you need to innovate, you need collaboration.”

– Marissa Mayer, Former president and chief executive officer of Yahoo!

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

– Steve Jobs, Chairman, CEO and co-founder of Apple

Motivational workplace quotes on employee engagement and productivity

“When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.”

– Simon Sinek, British/American author and motivational speaker

“Engaging the hearts, minds, and hands of talent is the most sustainable source of competitive advantage.”

– Greg Harris, President and CEO of Quantum Workplace

“The simple act of paying positive attention to people has a great deal to do with productivity.”

– Tom Peters, American writer on business management practices

Motivational workplace quotes on leadership

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

– John Quincy Adams, 6th President of the United States

“Good leadership requires you to surround yourself with people of diverse perspectives who can disagree with you without fear of retaliation.”

– Doris Kearns Goodwin, American biographer, historian and political commentator

“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.”

– Sam Walton, Founder of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Motivational workplace quotes on company culture

“Corporate culture is the only sustainable competitive advantage that is completely within the control of the entrepreneur.”

– David Cummings, Co-Founder of Pardot

“There’s no magic formula for great company culture. The key is just to treat your staff how you would like to be treated.”

– Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group

“A company’s culture is the foundation for future innovation. An entrepreneur's job is to build the foundation.”

– Brian Chesky, Co-founder and CEO of Airbnb

Motivational workplace quotes on recruitment

“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 and sweat and tears.”

– Simon Sinek, British/American author and motivational speaker

“Nothing we do is more important than hiring and developing people. At the end of the day, you bet on people, not on strategies.”

– Lawrence Bossidy, Former COO of General Electric

“Acquiring the right talent is the most important key to growth. Hiring was – and still is – the most important thing we do.”

– Marc Benioff, Founder, Chairman and co-CEO of Salesforce

Motivational workplace quotes on success

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

– Colin Powell, American statesman and army general

“It’s about getting the best people, retaining them, nurturing a creative environment & helping to find a way to innovate.”

– Marissa Mayer, President and CEO of Yahoo

"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit."

– Conrad Hilton, Founder of the Hilton Hotels

How to use these motivational workplace quotes?

Feel free to save or share the quotes that resonate with you.

You can use these inspiring and motivational workplace quotes to both shape and promote your company culture .

Here are some ideas to spark your imagination:

• Publish a quote on your company’s social media profiles (Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter or Instagram).
• Add a quote to your company’s newsletter
• Start your presentation with an inspiring quote
• Publish a quote on your website
• Print your favorite quote and keep it on your desk
• Write quotes on cards and distribute them to your employees
• Each week post a new quote on your company’s bulletin board
• Start all your meetings with one of these motivational quotes.

Looking for more motivational workplace quotes?

If you’re looking for more inspiring and motivational workplace-related quotes, check out:

• 10 Favorite Team Motivational Quotes
• Top 10 Inspirational HR and Recruiting Quotes
• Top HR and Recruiting Quotes from Technology Leaders

Don’t forget to share these inspirational quotes on social media! Spread the love and inspiration.

Additional resources to help you keep your team motivated

Looking for additional ideas to keep your employees motivated and inspired to give their best?

Want to create a positive and encouraging company culture?

Check out these resources:

• How to Motivate High-Performing Employees?
• 3 Tips for Dealing with Underperforming Employees
• Employee Recognition: The Key to Employee Satisfaction
• Top 25 Tips on How to Motivate Your Team from the Pros

Frequently asked questions

How Can Motivational Quotes Positively Influence Workplace Attitude?

Motivational quotes can have a positive influence on workplace attitude by inspiring and uplifting employees. Quotes like Winston Churchill's "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty," encourage a positive outlook and resilience in the face of challenges.

What Role Do Motivational Quotes Play in Fostering Innovation at Work?

Motivational quotes play a significant role in fostering innovation at work by encouraging creativity and risk-taking. For example, Woody Allen's quote, "If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative," highlights the importance of embracing failure as a part of the innovation process.

How Can Leaders Use Motivational Quotes to Enhance Leadership and Company Culture?

Leaders can use motivational quotes to enhance leadership and company culture by sharing wisdom and insights that inspire and guide employees. Quotes on leadership, like John Quincy Adams' "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader," can reinforce the values and behaviors expected in the workplace.

What Impact Do Motivational Quotes Have on Employee Engagement and Productivity?

Motivational quotes can significantly impact employee engagement and productivity by motivating employees to invest their best efforts. Quotes like Simon Sinek's "When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute," emphasize the importance of emotional investment in driving productivity and engagement.

How Can Companies Use Motivational Quotes in Their Recruitment Efforts?

Companies can use motivational quotes in their recruitment efforts to convey their organizational values and attract candidates who resonate with those values. Quotes related to recruitment, such as Marc Benioff's "Acquiring the right talent is the most important key to growth," can be used in job postings and career pages to illustrate a company's commitment to finding and nurturing the right talent.