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10 Inspiring Quotes to Motivate Your Team

5 min read
Lynsey May Sutherland
Author
Lynsey Sutherland

High-performing teams know that constant evolution is key. But keeping momentum going can be tough, especially when you’re working on big projects or facing new challenges. Here are some quotes to motivate your team.

Inspirational quotes are a powerful way to spread positive feelings and can be great for motivating teams. Best of all, they’re an easy win!

At Mo, we make sharing motivational and inspirational quotes a doddle. Our communication platform means you can reach every single employee in a fun and approachable way. All you need to do is pick your motivational quote and get posting. Your teams will be able to interact, share, and respond with a motivational quote of their own. 

10 quotes to help motivate your team

1. “Don’t ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility. Make decisions based on what should happen, not what shouldn’t.” Michelle Obama

Lawyer and former first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama is a woman with a keen eye for human behaviour. 

From the small decisions that govern the day-to-day to the big choices than can direct a career path, it’s always good to focus on positive outcomes. Encourage your team to forget fear and make decisions based on the changes you want to see in the workplace. 

2. “We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise, why else even be here?” Steve Jobs

Co-founder and former CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs was renowned for his vision. He was able to recognise the aspirations of his customers and release products that matched them. He certainly knew how to motivate his teams to do good work. 

Perhaps one of Jobs’ most inspiring quotes, this is ideal for companies who’re looking for innovation. By encouraging your employees to think big, you’re giving them license to dream. Not only does it boost job satisfaction, those dreams can be transformative for the whole of society. 

3. “Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four-hour days.” Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar was a motivational speaker as well as an influential salesman. It’s fair to say that he had a way with words.

It’s easy to feel that you have too much to do and not enough time to do it in. This quote reminds your people that taking a step back and focusing on the most important things is key. Once you’ve got a solid direction, prioritising comes naturally. 

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4. “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” ― Herman Melville

American novelist and author of classic take Moby Dick, Herman Melville was a man who knew how to lean into originality. 

Evolution is at the heart of every successful business. Melville’s quote is the perfect way to fire your team up and allow them to experiment. Imitating the companies around you can only take you so far; true success is in leaning into what makes your organisation unique. So boost employee motivation by emphasising their unique strengths.

5. “The road to success is always under construction.” Lily Tomlin

Iconic actress and comedian Lily Tomlin has a movie and TV career spanning fifty years. Her success is undeniable, but that doesn’t mean the path to it was always smooth. 

Whatever your goals are, you’re guaranteed to see things shift and change along the way. Make sure your team knows that setbacks and hard work are just part of the process. In fact, they can make success even sweeter.  Plus, it makes each employee feel valued.

6. “We build too many walls and not enough bridges.” Sir Isaac Newton 

Sir Isaac Newton was a key figure of the Scientific Movement and the following period of Enlightenment. Meaning he was no stranger to the power of working together as a way to bring about great change. 

Collaboration is the bedrock of most successful businesses. Rather than let your team get too fixated on individual goals, remind them of the power of working together. Lean into the strength of each member and build the kind of bridges that support everyone. 

7. “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed. Michael Jordan

Not only is Michael Jordon a basketball legend, he’s also one of the most quoteworthy sportsmen out there. The form NBA star knows how to get right to the heart of the matter.  

If there was ever a quote to show your team of the value of not giving up, this is it. Remind employees that it’s ok to make mistakes. Show them that you want to see them stretch themselves. The results will be worth the effort, even if there are a few failures along the way to reaching their goals. 

8. “The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.” ― Arthur C. Clarke

Sir Arthur Charles Clarke was a science fiction and science writer, as well as a popular TV host and explorer. As a futurist and keen proponent of space travel, he knew how to harness big dreams. 

This quote is an excellent reminder that sticking to what you know will always limit growth. To find out what a team or individual is capable of, it’s important to take risks. What seems impossible might just be achievable with a little effort.

9. “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” Henry Ford

The founder of the Ford Motor Company knew a thing or two about success. Henry Ford’s quote is a good reminder of what it takes to create a prosperous business.

When everyone is aligned with your core company values, you’re in a position to succeed. It’s much easier to collaborate and work together when you know everyone is pulling in the same direction.  

10. “Remain a lifelong student. Don’t lose that curiosity.” Indra Nooyi

Indra Nooyi spent her childhood dreaming of what she might achieve. She’s now the former CEO of Pepsi Co and one of the world’s most successful women.

You want your team to thrive. Give them the ability to follow their passions and pursue their own career development goals. Not only will this help upskill your workplace, but it will drive employee engagement and curiosity too. 

Start motivating your teams more successfully today

Quotes to motivate your teams are a wonderful way to help inspire your team with new ideas. And with Mo’s software for managers, you can share them with remote teams and in-office workers in a matter of moments. 

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If you’re looking for a way to enhance your employee reward program, you can celebrate a particular team member who embodies the sentiment of every quote you post. What better way to make them feel appreciated?

Mo is an employee recognition and engagement platform that can help leaders improve collaboration and morale, reduce employee churn, and drive change. 

Our platform creates a vibrant culture by developing team habits, encouraging people to celebrate success, recognise results, and appreciate colleagues. Your complete toolkit for connecting and motivating teams in the new world of work. Book a demo with our team today.

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