Sometimes it’s a few simple words that can help us to approach our work differently or change our behavior in ways that allow us to learn and grow.

I’ve combined both my all time favorite inspirational quotes, as well as a few of my personal quotes of management wisdom for those charged with managing and leading employees.

Find those quotes that not only resonate with you, but that you can commit to incorporating into your day to day employee management objectives.

Inspirational Employee Management and Business Quotes

"The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority." –Ken Blanchard

"You do not lead by hitting people over the head – that’s assault, not leadership." –Dwight D. Eisenhower

"The best managers lead by example, give employees feedback, and make mentoring their employees a priority". – Dianne Shaddock, Easy Small Business HR.com

"Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them." –Henry Ford

"Leadership is a combination of strategy and character. If you must be without one, be without the strategy." –Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf

"Treat employees fairly. Staff can be your best word of mouth advertising, or your worst nightmare." –Dianne Shaddock, EasySmallBusinessHR.com

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." –John Quincy Adams

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

"Empower your employees. Give them the latitude to make decisions that will save time, provide better service and make their jobs easier." –Dianne Shaddock, Easy Small Business HR.com

"A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be. " –Rosalynn Carter