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 Kypit laminat_vvEn Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

202,866 thoughts on “How to Pet a Porcupine”

  5. Выбор интернет-провайдера в Екатеринбурге — важный процесс‚ который требует внимательного подхода . Существует множество аспектов‚ которые влияют на выбор ‚ включая скорость соединения‚ тарифные планы и стабильность подключения. В первую очередь стоит обратить внимание на доступные технологии подключения : оптоволоконный‚ DSL или мобильный интернет. Каждый из них имеет свои преимущества и недостатки . Анализ различных провайдеров позволит понять‚ кто предлагает наиболее выгодные условия. Мнения пользователей о провайдерах могут дать представление о реальном качестве услуг и стабильности соединения . Не менее важна поддержка пользователей: оперативность в решении проблем являеться залогом комфортного использования интернета. Также полезно изучить акционные предложения и стоимость услуг . Некоторые интернет-провайдеры‚ такие как domashij-internet-ekaterinburg005.ru‚ могут предложить интересные тарифы. Тщательное изучение всех этих факторов поможет выбрать подходящего провайдера для доступа к интернету.

    Reply

  9. Very good blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m totally confused .. Any tips? Appreciate it!

    Reply

  15. В Екатеринбурге огромное количество вариантов для выгодных покупок телевизионной техники. Интернет-магазины предоставляют специальные предложения на телевизоры, что поможет вам сэкономить. Сниженные цены на телевизоры можно найти в самых разных онлайн-шопинг платформах, где представлены телевизионные предложения на разные предпочтения и финансовые возможности.Следите за распродажами техники, которые регулярно проходят в течение года. Акции и сезонные скидки дают возможность купить технику по выгодным ценам на телевизоры. Не забывайте о возврате части средств на покупки, что может значительно увеличить вашу экономию. domashij-internet-ekaterinburg005.ru Кроме того специальные предложения в Екатеринбурге на электронику часто предусматривают телевизоры по сниженным ценам, что делает эти предложения особенно привлекательными. Ознакомьтесь с новейшими предложениями и распродажами, чтобы не упустить выгодные предложения.

    Reply

  19. Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just too great. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it wise. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is actually a great web site.

    Reply

  30. I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was curious what all is required to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100% sure. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Kudos

    Reply

  36. I think everything posted made a bunch of sense. However, think about this, what if you were to create a killer post title? I ain’t saying your content isn’t good, however what if you added a title that makes people desire more? I mean %BLOG_TITLE% is kinda boring. You could peek at Yahoo’s front page and note how they create article headlines to get viewers interested. You might add a related video or a related picture or two to get people interested about everything’ve got to say. Just my opinion, it might bring your blog a little bit more interesting.

    Reply

  39. I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i’m glad to show that I’ve a very just right uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I such a lot for sure will make certain to don?t forget this web site and give it a glance on a relentless basis.

    Reply

  40. В этих случаях вызов нарколога на дом не только оправдан, но и жизненно необходим для предотвращения опасных осложнений и стабилизации здоровья пациента.
    Получить больше информации – http://narcolog-na-dom-voronezh00.ru/

    Reply

  41. Услуга “Нарколог на дом” в Уфе охватывает широкий спектр лечебных мероприятий, направленных как на устранение токсической нагрузки, так и на работу с психоэмоциональным состоянием пациента. Комплексная терапия включает в себя медикаментозную детоксикацию, корректировку обменных процессов, а также психотерапевтическую поддержку, что позволяет не только вывести пациента из состояния запоя, но и помочь ему справиться с наркотической зависимостью.
    Углубиться в тему – нарколог на дом недорого в уфе

    Reply

  47. We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with valuable information to work on. You have done an impressive job and our whole community will be grateful to you.

    Reply

  48. Need to test services or register without giving your own number? Try our temp sms solution for fast, simple, and private SMS reception.

    Getting text messages is crucial for contemporary interactions. They allow us to stay connected with friends, family, and colleagues.

    In today’s tech-driven world, receiving SMS has evolved into a vital means of communication. Whether it’s for alerts or notifications, SMS fulfills numerous functions.

    However, some users face challenges with SMS delivery. Problems may stem from network issues, device configurations, or software errors.

    To tackle these problems, individuals should verify their network connectivity and device settings. Updating the device software can also help improve SMS functionality.

    Reply