Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of effective listening?

The characteristic that stands out as not being part of effective listening is ignoring the speaker's emotional tone. Effective listening involves not just hearing the words being spoken but also recognizing the emotions that accompany those words. Understanding the emotional tone can provide crucial context to the message, allowing for a deeper comprehension of the speaker's intent and creating a more empathetic interaction.

Engaging in the speaker's message, providing constructive feedback, and assigning meaning to the message are all important components of effective listening. Engaging means actively participating in the conversation, indicating interest and understanding. Providing constructive feedback shows the listener's engagement and comprehension of the conversation, helping to create a dialogue rather than a one-sided discussion. Assigning meaning helps in interpreting the message correctly, facilitating better communication.

By recognizing the importance of emotional tone, effective listeners can respond in ways that are more aligned with the speaker's feelings, which enhances trust and rapport in communication. Thus, ignoring this aspect contradicts the principles of effective listening.