Networking contexts primarily involve interaction with outsiders; which activity would be least associated with networking?

• A. Attending industry conferences.
• B. Building partnerships with suppliers.
• C. Sending internal memos to staff.
• D. Collaborating with external consultants.

Answer: (C)

Networking centers on building and maintaining relationships with people outside your own organization to access information, opportunities, and resources. Activities that involve outsiders fit this well: attending industry conferences puts you in touch with peers and potential partners; building partnerships with suppliers creates external collaborative links; collaborating with external consultants brings in outside expertise. Sending internal memos to staff stays within the organization and supports internal coordination, not external relationship-building, so it is the activity least associated with networking.