Inspiring Employee Appreciation Quotes To Boost Morale

Sometimes, though, expressing exactly what you want to say can be tricky. What’s the best way to say thank you to an employee or colleague? Or make sure everyone on your team is feeling appreciated at work? 

Employee appreciation quotes can be a great starting point to show you care and value your people. Whether you’re drafting an employee thank you note, preparing for a dedicated staff appreciation event or simply extending your gratitude on a call, here are some ideas to get started. Plus, some tips on using these quotes effectively to build a culture of appreciation at work.

The Powerful Influence of Words

Employee appreciation is such an important part of a positive, productive work environment. It doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive – 85% of employees say they are pleased with even just a simple “thank you.” 

To make that “thank you” even more meaningful, make sure to make it specific and personalized. It can be a written message, an email, posted publicly on a company-wide communication platform or shared verbally in a private moment. The most important thing is that the appreciation is genuine and authentic. 

A thoughtful message expressing gratitude is incredibly powerful and leaves a lasting impact – on both the recipient and the organization. In fact,  employees who are shown appreciation are 56% less likely to be looking for a new job. Feeling recognized is a key part of wanting to stay at a place of employment. 

Using Employee Appreciation Quotes Effectively

Choosing the right moment and quote significantly amplifies the impact. To make sure the message resonates, ask yourself these questions:

1. Why are you sending the message now? Whether it’s something time-sensitive like a recent accomplishment or because you were just thinking how great the person is, make sure to provide that context. 
2. Does the recipient prefer public or private praise? Some people love the attention of a compliment and would appreciate others on the team hearing the praise. Others prefer to be complimented in private. Know your audience. 
3. What is the key message you want to impart? Be specific in your praise. Highlight exactly what it is that they did/do that you appreciate and why. If possible, share some details about the impact.

Types of Employee Appreciation Quotes

Gratitude and Recognition 

Acknowledging someone for what they bring to the table – both in terms of efforts and accomplishments, as well as who they are – is an important part of recognition in the workplace. It can be an incredible motivation boost – what they do matters and is noticed. Here are some phrases you can use to express gratitude and recognition:

• “Your dedication and hard work are so appreciated. You really are invaluable to our team’s success.”
• “Your attention to detail and precision demonstrate a level of professionalism that we deeply appreciate."
• “Thank you for the effort and consideration you put into everything you do!”
• “You did such an amazing job in the last presentation, you clearly put a lot of thought into it and it blew everyone away. Well done!”
• “I am constantly impressed by your work ethic and talent. Thank you for all you do.”

Need some inspiration from great thinkers of the past? Here are some quotes to get the creative juices flowing:

1. "Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." – Voltaire
2. “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward
3. “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” – John F. Kennedy

Motivation and Encouragement 

Employee appreciation isn’t just for when everything is going great. The right words can help motivate employees at any time, improving morale and confidence. Here are a few ways to inspire and encourage:

• “Your passion and enthusiasm for your work is truly contagious, you help create such a positive atmosphere for our team.”
• “Keep up the excellent work, it’s really paying off and appreciated.”
• “You meet challenges with such grace. It’s inspiring.”
• "Your willingness to take on new challenges embodies the spirit of growth and development we cherish in our team."
• “Your willingness to embrace change and adapt to new situations is such a testimony to your flexibility and strength. Keep doing what you’re doing!"

And here are some words of encouragement that have withstood the test of time, for good reason:

1. "Believe you can, and you're halfway there." – Theodore Roosevelt
2. "Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." – Winston Churchill
3. “Failure is not the opposite of success: it’s part of success.” – Arianna Huffington

Teamwork and Collaboration

A cohesive, supportive team is one of the most important elements for success at work – both in terms of business impact and employee satisfaction. Recognizing the collaborative efforts of team members strengthens relationships, while also promoting a culture of unity and shared goals. Here are some ways to show that appreciation:

• “I’m so grateful for your exceptional teamwork and collaboration, you lift up everyone around you.”
• “Your strong leadership and kindness make a significant impact on how well our team works together.”
• “Thank you for helping foster an environment where every voice is heard and valued. Your open-minded approach really encourages everyone to actively participate in group discussions.”
• "Your support and encouragement to others on the team during challenging times really demonstrates a commitment to collective success. You play a huge role in making our team great.” 
• “We all appreciate your collaborative approach to problem-solving and your readiness to jump in to help!”

What do others say about teamwork? These famous quotes celebrate working together!

1. "Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much." – Helen Keller
2. "If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” – Henry Ford
3. "Great things in business are never done by one person; they're done by a team of people." – Steve Jobs

Incorporating Quotes into Company Culture

There are so many ways to include employee appreciation quotes into the workplace and make recognition part of the day-to-day. 

For example, some companies display quotes – either famous ones or ones created internally – on office walls or other common spaces for daily motivation. Others incorporate these messages into company communications as a reminder of the organization’s commitment to valuing employees. 

Don’t just take a top-down approach with words of application. Peer-to-peer recognition is equally, if not more, important. Make it easy for colleagues to praise one another with a recognition platform to send encouragement and by building in time during meetings to highlight accomplishments. 

What else do you need to encourage gratitude in the workplace? Download the Ultimate Guide to Employee Appreciation Checklist.