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 oborydovanie medicinskoe_kwkn Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

230,088 thoughts on “How to Pet a Porcupine”

  2. Hello fantastic website! Does running a blog such as this require a lot of work? I’ve virtually no understanding of computer programming but I was hoping to start my own blog in the near future. Anyway, if you have any suggestions or techniques for new blog owners please share. I know this is off topic but I just wanted to ask. Cheers!

    Reply

  6. Looking for open a merchant account? Visit sharpay.net and see the innovative solutions we offer as a leading fintech platform, namely modern financial services to individuals and businesses. We provide global reach, security at every moment, and comprehensive capabilities. Learn about all our advantages on the site.

    Reply

  27. Мы учитываем сопутствующие заболевания, прием хронических препаратов, возраст и образ жизни. На первичной консультации специалист задаёт уточняющие вопросы, чтобы определить риски, подобрать безопасные препараты и предложить удобный формат: стационар, амбулаторно или выезд на дом. Такой подход сокращает срок восстановления и повышает устойчивость результата.
    Подробнее тут – анонимная наркологическая клиника

    Reply

  43. Сделать мед лицензию было легко с Журавлев Консалтинг Групп, команда сопровождала процесс, проверяла документацию и консультировала по требованиям государственных органов: https://licenz.pro/

    Reply

  44. That is very interesting, You are a very professional blogger.
    I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to
    in quest of extra of your fantastic post. Additionally,
    I’ve shared your web site in my social networks

    Reply

  46. Undeniably believe that which you said. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the net the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people consider worries that they just don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

    Reply

  49. Normally I don’t learn article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very pressured me to take a look at and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thanks, quite great post.

    Reply