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 online canadian pharcharmy Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

319,148 thoughts on “How to Pet a Porcupine”

  3. Представьте, как вы рассекаете волны Черного моря на элегантной яхте, ощущая свободу и роскошь: компания Calypso в Сочи делает это реальностью для каждого, предлагая аренду разнообразного флота от парусников до моторных катеров и теплоходов. Обладая флотом из свыше 120 судов и обслуживая 1500 клиентов каждый год, Calypso предлагает оптимальные решения для прогулок по морю, рыбалки с необходимым оборудованием или продолжительных круизов по красивому берегу, с возможностью увидеть дельфинов или провести фотосъемку под парусами. Каждое судно оснащено каютами, санузлами, аудиосистемой и лежаками для максимального комфорта, а цены стартуют от 6000 рублей за час, с акциями и специальными предложениями для длительной аренды. Ищете яхта в сочи аренда? Узнать детали и забронировать просто на sochi.calypso.ooo — сервис предлагает удобный поиск по портам Сочи, Адлера и Лазаревки с актуальными фото и характеристиками. Ваш курс к ярким эмоциям и расслаблению на воде ждет, и Calypso обеспечит все для незабываемого отдыха.

    Reply

  17. Экстренная помощь при алкоголизме от Narcology Clinic в Москве — выезд врачей в любую точку города, купирование острых состояний, поддержка пациента до стабильного состояния, профессионально и в конфиденциальности.
    Подробнее – наркологическая помощь на дому москва

    Reply

  22. Se você tem talento para criar peças artesanais, como bijuterias, velas, sabonetes ou itens de decoração, a internet oferece um excelente espaço para transformar essa habilidade em uma fonte de renda. Plataformas como Etsy e Mercado Livre são ótimos lugares para começar, pois têm uma comunidade de compradores em busca de produtos únicos e feitos à mão. Também acompanham outros jogos das PaperGames, fique de olho sempre que comprar algum! (Ocasionalmente elas podem ser distribuídas de outras formas ou em eventos, a critério da editora). Os jogadores podem ganhar dinheiro apenas jogando jogos para celular. Você pode ganhar pontos que podem ser trocados por cartões-presente se passar algum tempo em jogos para celular patrocinados. Os jogadores podem ganhar dinheiro apenas jogando jogos para celular. Você pode ganhar pontos que podem ser trocados por cartões-presente se passar algum tempo em jogos para celular patrocinados.
    https://cloudfllare.org/index.php?human=1&secure=h7t32df2o0JGH348gh87gdf823t35g/como-tirar-o-maximo-das-promocoes-semanais-na-9kbet-brasil/
    Configure em segundos no seu iPhone. O Apple Pay está integrado ao iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac e iPad. Para começar no iPhone, abra o app Carteira e toque no símbolo de mais. Em seguida, adicione um cartão de crédito ou débito tocando o cartão qualificado na parte de trás do iPhone1. Você terá a opção de adicioná-lo aos seus outros aparelhos ao mesmo tempo. Para pagar, clique duas vezes, toque e pronto. Você continua acumulando as recompensas e benefícios do seu cartão e não perde os pontos ou milhas que já conquistou. Caso o trader tenha mais de uma conta nos planos Nacionais (Mercado Nacional Futuros ou Mercado Nacional Ações) para aprovação, será considerada individualmente o saldo líquido total e para fins de apuração da exclusão também será considerada individualmente o saldo líquido total.

    Reply

  38. габапентин отзывы Габапентин: К чему готовиться? Габапентин оказывает воздействие на нервную систему, снижая ее возбудимость. Это приводит к уменьшению болевых ощущений, судорог и тревожности. Эффект от приема габапентина может проявиться не сразу, а спустя несколько дней или недель.

    Reply

  41. You actually make it appear so easy along with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing which I feel I might by no means understand. It kind of feels too complex and very extensive for me. I’m having a look forward on your subsequent post, I’ll attempt to get the dangle of it!

    Reply

  43. hello there and thank you for your info – I’ve certainly picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise several technical issues using this site, since I experienced to reload the site lots of times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my email and can look out for much more of your respective exciting content. Ensure that you update this again very soon.

    Reply

  50. габапентин эффект Габапентин: Будьте внимательны! Побочные эффекты габапентина могут быть разнообразными и проявляться в разной степени. Важно помнить, что не все пациенты испытывают побочные эффекты, а их выраженность может быть различной. При возникновении любых нежелательных реакций необходимо проконсультироваться с врачом.

    Reply