Marathon runners prepare thoroughly for a race—not just physically, but mentally as well. They have psychological strategies to push through tough moments and a tactical plan to manage their race, based on knowledge of the course and their competitors. The entire population has now been running a collective marathon for over five weeks. However, they were unprepared for this exceptional event: no physical training, no mental support for the race, no tactical plan for how to endure until the finish line.
While a marathon runner must rely on themselves for motivation, scientists and politicians can take the lead in motivating and guiding the population—a significant advantage. Motivational leadership is more crucial now than ever, as the population’s motivational support has rapidly declined in the past ten days. This is evident from the results of the 'How Are You Doing in Your Home' study conducted by Ghent University. To enhance the motivational intuition of scientists and politicians, we have compiled a checklist with 18 recommendations for motivational communication.