The more you network, the more you will hear the same tired ice breakers about the weather. It's time to boost your memorability and gain valuable intel about others by using new conversation drivers. A recent blog post by Know Your Company suggests 25 of the best icebreakers. While they focus on communication among coworkers, their questions are just as applicable to reps and their professional and social networks.

Getting to know others, and ultimately building trust, is vital to sales success. And luckily, Know Your Company has put a lot of thought into which questions are most effective. As Claire Lew writes, "At Your Company, we put a lot of thought (over four years' worth of research and fine-​tuning!) into crafting get-​to-​know-​you questions that would be as non-​cheesy as possible and elicit meaningful and memorable responses."

Below are just a few of their recommended questions:

"Been anywhere recently for the first time?"

Sharing in new things with others creates a sense of camaraderie, so encourage others to talk about new experiences. You may develop an even deeper connection if it's also one you experienced. Or, you may learn about a new restaurant or destination that might be of interest.

"Who's someone you really admire?

"Understanding who someone looks up to reveals a significant amount about a person's influences, preferences, and outlook on life," Lew explains. "This is a great question to ask to help get a sense of what and who a person values."

"What's something you want to do in the next year that you've never done before?"

This is a fresher version of the old "what-​are-​your-​goals" question. It allows the other person to share dreams, whether they be professional or personal. You'll gain some great insight into what drives him or her, as well as their plans for the future.

For the entire list of questions, check out Lew's blog post. They not only will help you learn more about others when you network, but you'll also stand out from those still stuck on old discussion topics.