This report by Aon Hewitt refers to the fact that 2017’s turning out to be a time of rapid change for businesses. It highlights the ever-growing importance of organizations making decisions about the best ways to continue to engage their employees, but sometimes that’s easier said than done.

What exactly is employee engagement in practical terms? If you were given the challenge of summarizing employee engagement in just a few sentences what would you write?

Trying to capture the essence of employee engagement isn’t always easy but here are 10 people who we think have come up with some near perfect employee engagement quotes that capture one of the workplace’s most intangible challenges…

1. “Employee engagement is the emotional commitment an employee has to the organization and its goals.” – Kevin Kruze

Kevin Kruze has made many great quotes on the subject of employee engagement but I like this one because it’s simple and gets straight to the heart of the matter – engagement equals an emotional commitment.

2. “Paychecks can’t buy passion.” – Brad Federman

Employees need to have the basics in place. Yes, that includes a fair rate of pay for the job, but as this quote from Chief Operating Officer at F&H Solutions Group Brad Federman sums up so neatly, it’s never going to be enough on its own to create real engagement.

3. “Turned on people figure out how to beat the competition. Turned off people only complain about being beaten by the competition.” – Ben Simonton

What a brilliant employee engagement quote from the author of ‘Leading People To Be Highly Motivated And Committed’. I like this because it captures the energy and desire to do well that’s inspired by being engaged – and contrasts it with the lethargy and lack of action from those who aren’t.

4. “Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole person – not just an employee – are more productive, more satisfied, more fulfilled. Satisfied employees mean satisfied customers, which leads to profitability.” – Anne Mulcahy

Wise words from the former CEO of Xerox as she talks about the need to remember every employee’s a person too. Recognizing them as people, and helping them get balance in all aspects of their life, is an essential part of them feeling fulfilled and delivering a great performance at work.

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

I love the contrasting investment scenarios. One where people put in with the intention of taking out again: one where investment makes them want to keep on giving more. Another illustration of the power of emotions.

6. “Connect the dots between individual roles and the goals of the organization. When people see that connection, they get a lot of energy out of work. They feel the importance, dignity, and meaning in their job.” – Ken Blanchard

Purpose is an essential part of engagement, something acknowledged by management expert Ken Blanchard. I like the idea of those dots – the connection between roles and goals may always be there but it needs to be made clear to get the real benefits of engagement.

7. “To win in the marketplace you must first win in the workplace.” – Doug Conant

A concise reminder from the CEO of Campbell’s Soup of the fact that a company’s culture shapes the employee as well as the customer experience. Get one right and the other’s on track to look pretty healthy too.

8. “Appreciate everything your associates do for the business. Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise. They’re absolutely free and worth a fortune.” – Sam Walton

Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton was known for his people-first approach to building a business and it certainly worked for him. Who better to express the phenomenal power of thank you in engagement so succinctly.

9. “Always treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers.” – Stephen R. Covey

A great quote emphasising the effects of making employees feel valued. Treat them as well as you can and the standard’s set for how every stakeholder should be looked after – including customers.

10. “When people go to work, they shouldn’t have to leave their hearts at home.” – Betty Bender

Whether they’re in or outside the workplace, people are people. This employee engagement quote is the perfect reminder that a working environment where people can be themselves is a workplace where employees feel engaged.

Learn more about how social recognition can deliver a sustainable boost to employee engagement.