What communication strategy is less effective in calming an upset individual?

Ignoring the individual's emotions is less effective in calming an upset person because it fails to acknowledge their feelings and creates a barrier in communication. When someone is upset, they often need to feel heard and understood in order to de-escalate the situation. Ignoring their emotions can make the individual feel even more isolated and increase their frustration.

In contrast, strategies like demonstrating active listening, offering compliments, and using soothing language engage the individual and validate their experience. Active listening shows that you are paying attention and care about what they are going through. Offering compliments can help to build rapport and diffuse tension. Soothing language creates a calming atmosphere and can help in reducing the person's agitation. Therefore, ignoring emotions undermines any attempts to provide comfort or support, making it the least effective strategy.