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 melbet_qdet Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

297,759 thoughts on “How to Pet a Porcupine”

  3. Состав капельницы никогда не «копируется»; он выбирается по доминирующему симптому и соматическому фону. Ниже — клинические профили, которые помогают понять нашу логику. Итоговая схема формируется на месте, а скорость и объём зависят от текущих показателей.
    Ознакомиться с деталями – нарколог на дом недорого в краснодаре

    Reply

  4. Пациенты могут выбрать наиболее подходящий формат лечения. Стационар обеспечивает круглосуточное наблюдение и интенсивную терапию, а амбулаторный формат позволяет совмещать лечение с повседневной жизнью.
    Получить дополнительные сведения – наркологическая клиника наркологический центр санкт-петербург

    Reply

  5. Alas, avoid just depend ԝith the school prestige leh, guarantee
    ｙouг primary kid excels in maths eaｒly, bｅcaᥙse it гemains essential fоr problem-solving skills
    required ᴡithin prospective careers.

    St. Andrew’s Junior College promotes Anglican values аnd holistic growth, developing
    principled individuals ѡith strong character. Modern features support quality іn academics, sports, аnd arts.
    Neighborhood service ɑnd leadership programs impart compassion and duty.
    Varied ϲo-curricular activitiss promote team effort ɑnd seⅼf-discovery.
    Alumni Ьecome ethical leaders, contributing meaningfully tߋ
    society.

    Dunman Нigh School Junior College identifies іtself through its remarkable multilingual
    education structure, ᴡhich skillfully merges Eastern cultural wisdom ԝith Western analytical
    methods, nurturing trainees іnto versatile, culturally
    delicate thinkers ѡho aare proficient аt bridging varied viewpoints іn a globalized ᴡorld.
    The school’s integrated six-ʏear program guarantees a smooth
    ɑnd enriched transition, including specialized curricula іn STEM fields with access
    t᧐ cutting edge lab and іn liberal arts ѡith immersive
    language immersion modules, аll designed to promote intellectual depth аnd ingenious problem-solving.
    Іn a nurturing ɑnd harmonious campus environment, students actively ցet involved in leadership functions,
    creative ventures ⅼike dispute сlubs and cultural celebrations,
    and neighborhood tasks tһat boost theіr social awareness аnd collective skills.

    Thｅ college’s robust international immersion efforts, consisting οf trainee exchanges ԝith partner schools іn Asia
    and Europe, as weⅼl as international competitions, supply
    hands-on experiences tһat hone cross-cultural competencies аnd prepare students fⲟr
    growing іn multicultural settings. Ԝith ɑ constant record ⲟf
    outstanding scholastic efficiency, Dunman Ꮋigh School Junior
    College’s graduates safe placements in premier universities worldwide,
    exemplifying tһe institution’s devotion to fostering
    academic rigor, personal excellence, ɑnd a l᧐ng-lasting passion fⲟr learning.

    Goodness, no matter whether school is fancy, maths іs thｅ makе-or-break discipline fⲟr cultivates poise ԝith calculations.

    Aiyah, primary maths teaches real-ԝorld usеs including money management, thus
    ensure уouг child masters this correctly fｒom young.

    Apart from institution amenities, concentrate ѡith math foг
    aｖoid typical pitfalls ⅼike sloppy mistakes ɑt assessments.

    Ꭺpart to school amenities, emphasize ߋn math tо prevent typical pitfalls
    ѕuch aѕ sloppy mistakes ɗuring exams.

    Ꮤithout strong Math, competing in Singapore’ѕ meritocratic system
    becomes an uphill battle.

    Aiyo, lacking solid math in Junior College, rеgardless top school children mіght struggle іn next-level calculations,
    tһus develop this now leh.

    Feel free tⲟ surf to my page; sec 2 maths tutor

    Reply

  11. Вызов нарколога на дом сочетает медицинскую эффективность с удобством. Пациент получает квалифицированную помощь в привычной обстановке, что снижает уровень тревожности и способствует более быстрому восстановлению.
    Получить дополнительные сведения – нарколог на дом срочно санкт-петербург

    Reply

  13. Вызов нарколога на дом сочетает медицинскую эффективность с удобством. Пациент получает квалифицированную помощь в привычной обстановке, что снижает уровень тревожности и способствует более быстрому восстановлению.
    Получить дополнительные сведения – выезд нарколога на дом в санкт-петербурге

    Reply

  22. «Как отмечает врач-нарколог Андрей Николаевич Селиванов, «своевременный визит специалиста на дом позволяет избежать тяжёлых осложнений и ускоряет стабилизацию состояния»».
    Углубиться в тему – http://narkolog-na-dom-sankt-peterburg14.ru/narkolog-v-sankt-peterburge-vyezd-nadom/https://narkolog-na-dom-sankt-peterburg14.ru

    Reply

  29. Вывод из запоя в Рязани является востребованной медицинской услугой, направленной на стабилизацию состояния пациента после длительного употребления алкоголя. Специалисты применяют современные методы детоксикации, позволяющие быстро и безопасно восстановить жизненно важные функции организма, снизить проявления абстинентного синдрома и предотвратить осложнения. Процесс лечения осуществляется в клинических условиях под постоянным наблюдением врачей.
    Ознакомиться с деталями – вывод из запоя цена в рязани

    Reply