Anger Intelligence Is the Most important Competency. . . Not Anger Management

There’s a genuine distinction between anger intelligence and anger management. Some have a few, healthy anger management skills, but it seems to me that very few people have anger intelligence competencies. Indeed, I suspect most have never thought about anger intelligence. It is however, a historical study.

Anger is usually viewed as a disrupting, destructive emotion, especially in business — unless, of course, you’re a well-placed executive without those limitations. The religious typically view anger as bad stuff, something we should set aside and, to quote St. Paul, never go to sleep with. Paul, however, never kept his own rule. So like most generalities, there are exceptions. Indeed, there are times when anger is strategic, and also times when it’s simply not useful to set anger aside, much less forgive the target of your anger.

To be clear, studies have shown that anger evolved as a means to help us express feelings of being undervalued. Showing anger signals that if we aren’t treated fairly or if we don’t get treated fairly, it’s going to cost the other person(s) either harm or benefits. It’s that emphasis I want you to consider.