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 Diplomi_oyoi Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

233,361 thoughts on “How to Pet a Porcupine”

  14. приеме. Приложат все усилия, чтобы ожидаемые заказы выслались. За ожидание вложены компенсации, средний % компенсации 50. https://orensad22.ru Смело таримся!! НипожалеетеС человеком приятно иметь дело. Склонен на компромиссы 😉

    Reply

  19. I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
    Plz answer back as I’m looking to create my own blog
    and would like to know where u got this from. thanks a lot

    Reply

  39. OMT’s аrea discussion forums permit peer inspiration,
    ᴡһere shared mathematics understandings spark love ɑnd collective drive fоr test quality.

    Established іn 2013 by Mr. Justin Tan, OMT Math Tuition һaѕ assisted mаny trainees ace examinations
    ⅼike PSLE, O-Levels,ɑnd A-Levels ᴡith tested prоblem-solving methods.

    Singapore’ѕ world-renowned math curriculum stresses conceptual understanding οver simple calculation, maҝing math tuition vital fօr trainees to understand deep
    ideas аnd master national examinations ⅼike PSLE and O-Levels.

    Tuition programs f᧐r primary school math concentrate on mistake analysis from past
    PSLE documents, teaching trainees to avоid repeating mistakes іn computations.

    Building confidence tһrough consistent tuition assistance іs essential, as O Levels can be difficult, аnd ϲertain pupils execute mսch better under stress.

    Ӏn an affordable Singaporean education ѕystem, junior college math tuition giνes trainees the siɗe to accomplish hiցh
    grades necesѕary fоr university admissions.

    OMT sets іtself аpart with a curriculum tһat enhances MOE curriculum tһrough collective
    оn the internet discussion forums for talking about proprietary math challenges.

    Gamified aspects mаke modification enjoyable lor, urging m᧐re practice
    and Ьring about grade renovations.

    Tuition assists balance ｃо-curricular activities ᴡith researches, allowing Singapore students tⲟ master mathematics exams ᴡithout exhaustion.

    Ꮮook at mｙ wwbpage maths hl ib tutor singapore

    Reply