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

Your email address will not be published.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

222,633 thoughts on “How to Pet a Porcupine”

  21. I am not sure where you are getting your info, but good topic.

    I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding
    more. Thanks for great info I was looking for this information for my mission.

    Reply

  26. Heya outstanding website! Does running a blog similar to this take a massive amount work? I have absolutely no knowledge of coding but I had been hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyhow, if you have any recommendations or tips for new blog owners please share. I understand this is off subject nevertheless I just had to ask. Cheers!

    Reply

  28. Hi there, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just curious if you get a lot of spam responses? If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can advise? I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any assistance is very much appreciated.

    Reply

  34. Компания «BETEREX» является важным, надежным, проверенным партнером, который представит ваши интересы в Китае. Основная сфера деятельности данного предприятия заключается в том, чтобы предоставить полный спектр услуг, связанных с ведением бизнеса в Поднебесной. На сайте https://mybeterex.com/ ознакомьтесь с исчерпывающей информацией на данную тему.

    Reply

  35. На данном этапе специалист уточняет продолжительность запоя, тип употребляемого алкоголя и наличие хронических заболеваний, что позволяет оперативно подобрать наиболее эффективные методы детоксикации и снизить риск осложнений.
    Изучить вопрос глубже – капельница от запоя на дому в луганске

    Reply

  41. 1хБет официальный Ищете 1xBet официальный сайт? Он может быть заблокирован, но у 1хБет есть решения. 1xbet зеркало на сегодня — ваш главный инструмент. Это 1xbet зеркало рабочее всегда актуально. Также вы можете скачать 1xbet приложение для iOS и Android — это надежная альтернатива. Неважно, используете ли вы 1xbet сайт или 1хБет зеркало, вас ждет полный функционал: ставки на спорт и захватывающее 1xbet casino. 1хБет сегодня — это тысячи возможностей. Начните прямо сейчас!

    Reply

  45. Heya exceptional website! Does running a blog like this take a lot of work? I have absolutely no understanding of coding however I had been hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyway, if you have any suggestions or tips for new blog owners please share. I know this is off subject nevertheless I just needed to ask. Appreciate it!

    Reply

  46. Мы заказали кухню в Кухни в Дом и получили отличный результат. Дизайнер предложил интересные решения для организации пространства, и всё было выполнено качественно. Установили встраиваемую технику, и теперь готовить стало удобнее. Отличная компания для покупки кухни в СПб: https://kuhni-v-dom.ru/

    Reply