Principle of the Hedgehogs

The Principle of the Hedgehogs is a way to introduce to the group to the balance between being reserved and opening up. Hedgehogs must find the right distance from each other to both enjoy warmth and not get pricked by spines. Likewise, participants must find the right distance between guardedness and collegiality.

Ask the group: we all have our professional selves and our most authentic, “shoes of” selves. To be successful in what we want to achieve, where is the right balance for this group?

The Principle of the Hedgehogs comes from Arthur Schopenhauer.