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 soglasovat proekt pereplanirovki_oxSi Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

103,013 thoughts on “How to Pet a Porcupine”

  5. Howdy I am so grateful I found your site, I really found you by error, while I was looking on Aol for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say thanks a lot for a fantastic post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the fantastic work.

    Reply

  7. blsp at Приготовься узнать, что взорвало тёмные глубины интернета. Blacksprut – это не просто бренд. Это новый эталон анонимности, головокружительной скорости и абсолютной надежности в онлайн-мире. Посети bs2best.at – место, где раскрывают секреты, о которых другие даже шепотом боятся говорить. Ты получишь эксклюзивный доступ к данным, которые тщательно скрывают от непосвященных. Только для тех, кто в теме и готов к большему. Ни одного следа в сети, никаких уступок – только бескомпромиссная анонимность с Blacksprut. Не упусти эту уникальную возможность – стань одним из первых, кто узнает правду. bs2best.at уже ждёт тебя. Готов ли ты увидеть то, что скрыто от большинства?

    Reply

  11. Вы не правы. Давайте обсудим.
    I have been cataloguing {websites|resources|magazines} with webcams for {many years|not the first year|for a long time|for a long time}, and {perhaps|probably|maybe|quite probably}, {you|viewer|user|visitor} have even {looked|have you looked at my lists of {sites|platforms|services|resources} with webcams for {intimacy|sex|bed} {online|live|on the Internet|online}, Asian #file_linksC:\Users\Admin\Desktop\file\gsa+en+Phoenix40k80k150k300k979URLBB.txt”,1,N] {online|live|on the Internet|in online} or pre-recorded fun that I posted on free websites{sites|resources|portals}, with webcams for {girls|women}.

    Reply

  12. Hi terrific website! Does running a blog similar to this require a massive amount work? I have very little expertise in programming but I was hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyhow, if you have any recommendations or techniques for new blog owners please share. I know this is off subject nevertheless I simply needed to ask. Thanks!

    Reply

  14. В клинике «АлкоНарко» доступны услуги нарколога на дому, капельницы при интоксикации, а также комплексное лечение алкоголизма. Специалисты оказывают анонимную наркологическую помощь и помогают пациентам вернуться к трезвой жизни.
    Углубиться в тему – алкоголь и лекарства совместимость

    Reply

  18. Cпециализируемся на правовой защите водителям Санкт-Петербурга. Мы успешно решаем спорами со страховыми компаниями. Наши специалисты обладают глубокими знаниями законодательства. Мы гарантируем конфиденциальность. Узнайте больше о наших услугах. https://avtoyristivspb.ru/

    Reply

  20. I have been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.

    Reply

  21. В «АлкоНарко» пациенты получают анонимное лечение зависимостей. Здесь можно вызвать нарколога на дом, пройти курс по выводу из запоя, воспользоваться услугой капельницы от запоя или пройти комплексную программу по борьбе с алкоголизмом и наркоманией.
    Получить дополнительную информацию – пить алкоголь во время беременности

    Reply

  25. EWSDAY — легкий вход в информационную повестку: новости, технологии, общество, интересные истории и практические обзоры от фриланса до транспорта. Издание аккуратно структурирует темы по рубрикам, чтобы вы быстро находили нужное и возвращались к сохранённым материалам. Откройте свежие публикации на https://ewsday.ru/ — минимум кликов, актуальная лента и комфортное чтение с любого устройства, когда важнее не шум, а смысл.

    Reply

  26. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this brilliant blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will share this website with my Facebook group. Chat soon!

    Reply

  27. Наркологическая клиника «Честный врач» в Нижнем Новгороде оказывает анонимные услуги: лечение алкоголизма, терапию наркомании, выезд нарколога на дом. Пациентам доступна капельница от запоя и медицинское сопровождение для восстановления здоровья и предотвращения осложнений.
    Получить дополнительные сведения – организации лечение наркомании

    Reply

  36. Клиника «АлкоНарко» специализируется на лечении алкоголизма и наркомании. Опытные врачи проводят вывод из запоя, ставят капельницы от запоя на дому и обеспечивают круглосуточную наркологическую помощь как в стационаре, так и на выезде.
    Детальнее –

    Reply

  37. Howdy! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa? My site addresses a lot of the same subjects as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other. If you might be interested feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Superb blog by the way!

    Reply