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 luckia casino Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

260,934 thoughts on “How to Pet a Porcupine”

  3. An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. I do believe that you should publish more on this issue, it might not be a taboo subject but generally folks don’t talk about these subjects. To the next! Best wishes!!

    Reply

  6. I have been surfing online greater than 3 hours lately, yet I never found
    any interesting article like yours. It’s beautiful worth
    enough for me. In my view, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you probably
    did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.

    Reply

  9. An interesting discussion is worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you should publish more on this subject matter, it might not be a taboo matter but usually folks don’t speak about these subjects. To the next! Many thanks!!

    Reply

  15. An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. I think that you need to publish more about this subject, it may not be a taboo matter but usually people do not discuss these topics. To the next! All the best!!

    Reply

  18. An interesting discussion is worth comment. I believe that you should publish more on this subject, it may not be a taboo subject but generally people do not speak about such topics. To the next! Kind regards!!

    Reply

  22. A motivating discussion is worth comment. I think that you need to publish more on this subject, it might not be a taboo matter but usually people don’t speak about such topics. To the next! Kind regards!!

    Reply

  23. A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I think that you ought to write more about this topic, it may not be a taboo matter but typically folks don’t speak about such issues. To the next! Best wishes!!

    Reply

  24. В Краснодаре клиника «Детокс» предоставляет услугу вызова нарколога на дом. Специалисты приедут к вам в течение 1–2 часов, проведут осмотр и назначат необходимое лечение. Все процедуры проводятся анонимно и с соблюдением конфиденциальности.
    Подробнее тут – нарколог на дом круглосуточно в сочи

    Reply

  25. A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I think that you should publish more about this subject matter, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people do not speak about these issues. To the next! All the best!!

    Reply

  26. Приобрести документ института вы сможете в нашей компании. Мы предлагаем документы об окончании любых университетов РФ. Гарантируем, что при проверке документа работодателем, каких-либо подозрений не появится: queryforjob.com/employer/frees-diplom

    Reply

  29. Заказать документ ВУЗа вы имеете возможность у нас в столице. Мы оказываем услуги по изготовлению и продаже документов об окончании любых университетов России. Гарантируем, что в случае проверки документа работодателем, подозрений не появится: meetspot.com/blogs_write.php?id=

    Reply

  33. Hi there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering
    if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form?
    I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m
    having problems finding one? Thanks a lot!

    Reply

  40. Заказать документ о получении высшего образования можно у нас в Москве. Мы предлагаем документы об окончании любых университетов России. Даем 100% гарантию, что в случае проверки документов работодателем, никаких подозрений не появится: galantclub.od.ua/member.php?u=15983

    Reply

  41. A motivating discussion is worth comment. I do believe that you should publish more about this issue, it may not be a taboo subject but typically people don’t speak about these issues. To the next! Many thanks!!

    Reply

  45. Старт всегда один: короткий скрининг с дежурным врачом, где уточняются жалобы, длительность эпизода, текущие лекарства, аллергии и условия дома. Далее согласуется реальное окно прибытия или приёма — без обещаний «через пять минут», но с честным ориентиром и запасом на дорожную обстановку. На месте врач фиксирует витальные показатели (АД, пульс, сатурацию, температуру), по показаниям выполняет ЭКГ, запускает детокс (регидратация, коррекция электролитов, защита печени/ЖКТ), объясняет ожидаемую динамику первых 6–12 часов и выдаёт памятку «на сутки»: режим сна, питьевой план, «красные флажки», точное время контрольной связи. Если домашний формат становится недостаточным, перевод в стационар организуется без пауз — терапия продолжается с того же места, где начата, темп лечения не теряется.
    Получить больше информации – http://narkologicheskaya-klinika-shchyolkovo0.ru/narkologicheskaya-klinika-ceny-v-shchyolkovo/

    Reply

  48. A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you need to write more on this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but generally people do not speak about such subjects. To the next! Best wishes!!

    Reply