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 prague-drugs-330 Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

268,763 thoughts on “How to Pet a Porcupine”

  21. Напечатать фото на футболке и оверсайз футболка мужские в Москве. Лонгслив под рубашку и брюки с перьями в Таганроге. Футболка психоделика и футболки с надписью рыбака в Санкт-Петербурге. Крафт упаковка в розницу и кастомизация одежды что это в Кургане. Pink Bus футболки оптом и футболки производство турция https://futbolki-s-printom.ru/

    Reply

  25. Greate post. Keep posting such kind of information on your page. Im really impressed by it.
    Hello there, You’ve done an incredible job. I’ll certainly digg it and for my part suggest to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this web site.

    Reply

  26. May I simply say what a comfort to discover somebody who truly understands what they are discussing over the internet. You certainly realize how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people have to read this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that you are not more popular given that you certainly possess the gift.

    Reply

  31. Принт на футболки Уфа и футболки приталенные женские в Волгограде. Женские худи с капюшоном больших размеров и женские толстовки больших размеров в Нальчике. Футболки заказ оптом и надписи на футболке мужику в Хабаровске. Гольф одежда и Just White одежда в Сыктывкаре. Футболка оптом с надписью дома и как выбрать футболку оверсайз – https://futbolki-s-printom.ru/

    Reply

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

    Reply

  42. kraken ссылка на сайт kraken onion, kraken onion ссылка, kraken onion зеркала, kraken рабочая ссылка onion, сайт kraken onion, kraken darknet, kraken darknet market, kraken darknet ссылка, сайт kraken darknet, kraken актуальные ссылки, кракен ссылка kraken, kraken официальные ссылки, kraken ссылка тор, kraken ссылка зеркало, kraken ссылка на сайт, kraken онион, kraken онион тор, кракен онион, кракен онион тор, кракен онион зеркало, кракен даркнет маркет, кракен darknet, кракен onion, кракен ссылка onion, кракен onion сайт, kra ссылка, kraken сайт, kraken актуальные ссылки, kraken зеркало, kraken ссылка зеркало, kraken зеркало рабочее, актуальные зеркала kraken, kraken сайт зеркала, kraken маркетплейс зеркало, кракен ссылка, кракен даркнет

    Reply

  46. Excellent post. I was checking constantly this weblog and I’m inspired! Extremely helpful information particularly the final section 🙂 I handle such info much. I was seeking this particular information for a long time. Thank you and good luck.

    Reply