Unleashing Creative Energy in the Workplace

Mr Herbst, you are a drummer and pianist. Music has an important place in your life. Do you also make music together with any colleagues at ERGO?

Indeed, I regularly accompany the ERGO choir and the vocal soloists at the Christmas concert. Additionally, I play keyboards in the 10-member Düsseldorf Soul & Funk band "Soul Food Company," which also has two other ERGO colleagues.

In your opinion, can the experiences of making music with others be projected onto professional collaboration?

Making music together almost always involves compromising to achieve a common goal. This begins with selecting songs or pieces of music, considering different musical tastes, and continues with co-ordinating time investment for rehearsals and preparations, as well as scheduling. It culminates in shared commitment during the performance and its organization. As in most jobs, the core activity of playing music doesn't always take up most of the overall effort. This often leads to differing opinions and attitudes, which ultimately result in friction among participants and can only be resolved through a willingness to compromise. The same applies in professional collaboration. Therefore, I advocate tolerance and the willingness to embrace this collegial compromise from everyone involved.

Do you believe that creative activities in your free time contribute to professional success, especially with regard to your tasks as a mathematician?

The dropout rate in traditional mathematics studies in Germany is over 50% (Source: DZHW). This statistic alone suggests that studying mathematics is characterized by intense learning and a considerable amount of frustration, as mathematics is an exact science where there is (mostly) only "right" or "wrong" – albeit often through different approaches. 

This fosters the tolerance of frustration that employers frequently seek, which is essential for perseverance.

Art and music are quite different – there is less "right" or "wrong" and more room for expression and varying tastes. Therefore, engaging in creative activities in art and music nourishes entirely different personal developments and acts as a complement or emotional balance to many professional activities. Engaging with art and music can also promote tolerance and acceptance, particularly when you interact with and exchange ideas about the art of others.

In both professional and artistic activities, many people experience fluctuations in their performance level depending on their form on the day. Do you have a formula for releasing energy at the right time?

Energy should be used sparingly. A healthy lifestyle, especially enough sleep, can significantly boost energy levels. Anyone with an important rehearsal or performance in music should allocate their energy wisely. The same applies to work: When important appointments are approaching, I focus on them. A two-hour concert can be more exhausting than a day at the office. Similarly, a single meeting can deplete all your energy for the day, leaving you feeling drained afterwards.

In general, if you want to release energy, you need to have energy within you. It’s a balancing act, and as the saying goes, "All beginnings are difficult" – similar to sports: without training, you can't run a half marathon. To get off the couch, it’s best to start with brisk walking, then gradually move on to jogging, and eventually to running longer distances. Over time, you build up your stamina – your energy levels increase with practice. The same applies to artistic activities. After a period of practice, ease and a sense of freedom emerge. With this sense of freedom, you become more aware of releasing your own energy – but this takes time. In most things in life, it’s the seasoned person who can perform freely: this applies to sports, as well as music and work.

Thank you for your time.

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