How to Pet a Porcupine

I discovered something new in a staff meeting a few weeks ago, and that is that you can pet a porcupine without getting hurt. I have never actually pet a porcupine, but I was told it is possible without a follow-up trip the hospital, if you do it correctly.

Porcupine

Photo courtesy of © flickr.com/photos/arthur_chapman/3986448936/

If you want to pet a porcupine without getting stuck by a bunch of quills you don’t run up and startle it.  You don’t quickly scoop it up into your hands and give it a big hug.  If you want to pet a porcupine you have to develop trust with it.  First, you hold out your hand to see if it wants to come near and sniff you. Only after it sniffs you can you pet it, but you have to do it a certain way starting at the head and petting down.  To pet a porcupine any other way could potentially hurt…a lot.

Some people are a lot like porcupines. They have quills, and they will stick you if you handle them the wrong way.    You know the kind of people I am talking about, they tend to be a bit grouchy, pessimistic, standoffish and avoid personal contact, have a tendency to complain and point out the bad in a situation, etc…  These people tend to be a lot like porcupines.  If you run up and startle them you’re going to get hurt.  If you try to pressure them into doing something you’re going to get hurt.  If you cross their path in a way they don’t like, start looking for the nearest hospital.

To pet one of these porcupines requires developing trust just like a real porcupine. No, holding out your hand to see if they sniff you is probably not the best way to go about it, but spending time getting to know them is.  Learning about their perspective, their past, their priorities can give you insight in how best to go about working and getting along with them.  Taking the time to building trust with can go a very long way, and save you a lot of pain in the end.  Just as I am sure petting a real porcupine is an amazing experience, I know that getting someone who is a bit prickly on your side can be just as fulfilling.

Also, for those who are pastors of churches and have opportunity to work with porcupines, the reality is that they are also sheep in need of a good shepherd. They can’t simply be dismissed. You can’t just steer clear of them like you might a real porcupine in the wild. You have to learn to pet them.  You have to learn to lead them. So you might as well do it the right way, and save yourself some pain.

Posted on
Category: Leadership

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.

Leave a Reply to Diplomi_depr Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

124,864 thoughts on “How to Pet a Porcupine”

  3. Заботьтесь о здоровье сосудов ног с профессионалом! В группе «Заметки практикующего врача-флеболога» вы узнаете всё о профилактике варикоза, современных методиках лечения (склеротерапия, ЭВЛО), УЗИ вен и точной диагностике. Доверяйте опытному врачу — ваши ноги заслуживают лучшего: https://phlebology-blog.ru/

    Reply

  13. Estou completamente vidrado por AFun Casino, parece uma rave de diversao sem fim. A gama do cassino e simplesmente uma explosao de prazeres, com caca-niqueis de cassino modernos e contagiantes. O suporte do cassino ta sempre na ativa 24/7, com uma ajuda que brilha como purpurina. Os saques no cassino sao velozes como um carro alegorico, as vezes mais recompensas no cassino seriam um diferencial festivo. Resumindo, AFun Casino garante uma diversao de cassino que e uma folia total para os apaixonados por slots modernos de cassino! Vale dizer tambem a plataforma do cassino brilha com um visual que e puro axe, eleva a imersao no cassino ao ritmo de uma festa.
    afun..com|

    Reply

  15. Ich bin total begeistert von Trickz Casino, es pulsiert mit einer verhexten Casino-Energie. Die Casino-Optionen sind vielfaltig und verzaubernd, inklusive stilvoller Casino-Tischspiele. Der Casino-Support ist rund um die Uhr verfugbar, ist per Chat oder E-Mail erreichbar. Der Casino-Prozess ist klar und ohne Tauschung, dennoch die Casino-Angebote konnten gro?zugiger sein. Zusammengefasst ist Trickz Casino ein Online-Casino, das wie ein Zirkus der Magie strahlt fur Zauberer im Casino! Zusatzlich die Casino-Plattform hat einen Look, der wie ein magischer Zirkus leuchtet, was jede Casino-Session noch verzauberter macht.
    trickz casino|

    Reply

  23. да и сама https://xn—-7sbfoldwkakcbybomed6q.xn--p1ai/component/k2/item/3-car-washing.html, в свою очередь, бывает очень разной. Черная, белая магия, заговоры и другие знатные сорта практической магии и волшебства сейчас становятся не лишь высокодоходными видами дела, но еще и широко в доступе и несведущим людям.

    Reply

  29. Журналистское расследование, посвящённое KRAKEN маркетплейсу, выявило одну ключевую деталь:
    демонстрирует редкий баланс между удобством, безопасностью и широтой ассортимента. В отличие от конкурентов, кракен маркетплейс поддерживает постоянную работу зеркал и доступность сервиса. Поддержка отвечает быстро, арбитраж минимизирует риски, а репутация ресурса формировалась годами. Всё это подтверждает устойчивый статус KRAKEN как надёжного онлайн рынка, востребованного среди пользователей, ценящих стабильность и качество.

    Reply

  37. Прикольные слова
    mi {megtudja|felismeri}, hogy a #file_linksC:\Users\Admin\Desktop\file\gsa+hu+PBNlomspirogiHU86c5cwhtp12P2URLBB.txt”,1,N] {has|has|exists} a {own|own} alkalmazas, mely platformokon {it|window} {functions|operates|performs its functions}, milyen gyors|mukodokepes, es {how|how easy it {in this section|here| in it} navigalni, {which allowing it |to} {conveniently|easily | comfortable} find {games |games} {or|or} kategoriak.

    Reply