Google: Six Infrastructure and Facility Topics of Growing Interest

These six infrastructure and facility topics are from JD Solomon Solutions are surging.

Five years of content creation related to infrastructure and facility topics provides a great foundation for what’s hot and what’s not. Google also provides a great way of tracking which of those insights see surges in their interest in any given year. As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, here are the six topics trending most as we head into 2025.

JD Solomon Solutions Blog

We created the JD Solomon Solutions blog in 2020, when we began the business. We believe there was greater value in providing our clients with trending content than self-serving newsletters. The topics for the insights come from the hot topics we see in our consulting practice, which focuses on asset management (including reliability and risk), program development, facilitation, and the environment.

Why Old Stuff Starts Trending on Google

A significant increase in Google views in a blog post's second or third year can indicate new interest in the topic. However, these are various factors for new interest.

1. Trending Topics

The topic of your blog post might have become more relevant or popular due to current events, trends, or changes in public interest.

2. Improved SEO

Updates to your blog post or changes in Google's search algorithms might have improved your post's ranking, making it more visible to searchers.

3. Backlinks

Other websites or blogs might have linked to your post, driving more traffic to it.

4. Social Media Shares

Increased sharing of your post on social media platforms can lead to a surge in views.

5. Content Updates

If you've updated the content to make it more relevant or comprehensive, it can attract more readers.

What’s Surging According to Google

According to Google, these are the top six topics we published in the last five years that are surging.

Too Many Variations? How to Know the Right Design-Build or EPC Firms

One of the biggest decisions an owner will make is choosing the right construction project delivery method. The decision is complicated by the number of architects, contractors, and engineers who do not wish to be squeezed out of an opportunity. Variations of delivery proliferate. Suddenly, everyone is an EPC or design-build firm.

Originally posted in May 2023, the surge in this post in 2024 is the result of a trending topic.

https://www.jdsolomonsolutions.com/post/too-many-variations-how-to-know-the-right-design-build-or-epc-firms

Improving System Performance Starts with a Criticality Analysis

Criticality analysis is the best way to prioritize organizational activities such as business process improvements, condition assessments, preventative maintenance program improvement, workforce development, work prioritization, inventory management & critical spares, predictive maintenance programs, health & safety improvements, design or re-designs, O&M budget development, CIP prioritization, and communications. Improving system performance starts with criticality analysis.

Originally posted in February 2022, this is definitively a trending topic.

https://www.jdsolomonsolutions.com/post/improving-system-performance-starts-with-a-criticality-analysis

Understanding Inflation and Escalation Will Make (or Break) Your Career

Current project managers and decision makers have not grown up in an era of rising construction escalation and economic inflation. The last time that happened was in the early 2000s. The fundamentals and good practices are the same, but reflection and a crash course in good practices are needed.

Originally published in August 2022, the increased interest in this post is a trending topic.

https://www.jdsolomonsolutions.com/post/understanding-inflation-and-escalation-will-make-or-break-your-career

Why Diversifying Water Sources Provides Benefits and Challenges

Diversifying the number of sources in a public drinking water system has positives and negatives. According to one source, approximately 75% of the US public drinking water systems use only one source. However, this percentage will trend in the other direction over the next few decades as regulatory standards become more stringent.

Originally published in April 2023, this is definitely a trending topic based on inquiries and projects. The drivers are viable infrastructure and emerging contaminants such as PFAS.

https://www.jdsolomonsolutions.com/post/why-diversifying-water-sources-provides-benefits-and-challenges

My Top 5 Tips for Facilitating Large Groups versus Small Groups

For many facilitators, bringing large groups to solutions that are created, understood, and accepted by all can be intimidating. As always, successful facilitation starts with doing the basics well. Special attention in five areas – breakout groups, pre-session exchange, simplified exercises, activity summaries, and group interaction – with large groups.

Originally posted in April 2023, this post’s surge in 2024 is likely the result of shares and backlinks on other websites.

https://www.jdsolomonsolutions.com/post/my-top-5-tips-for-facilitating-large-groups-versus-small-groups

Five Ways to More Effectively Facilitate Business Cases

Building better business cases enables technical professionals and decision makers to get more of what they need. That said, the business case's ultimate power is in the alignment and culture it builds for implementation. Having everyone work through a structured process where the results are created, understood, and accepted by all participants.

Originally published in April 2022, the reason for this post's interest surge is unclear. It is likely a combination of a trending topic, backlinks on other websites, and shares.

https://www.jdsolomonsolutions.com/post/five-ways-to-more-effectively-facilitate-business-cases

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JD Solomon Inc. provides solutions for program development, asset management, and facilitation at the nexus of facilities, infrastructure, and the environment. Subscribe for monthly updates related to our firm.

Swap "You" for "We" to Build Trust with Decision Makers

Try swapping out “you” for “we.” Build trust. Communicate with FINESSE.

When talking to senior decision makers, it’s easy to fall into the trap of sounding like a lecturer. Throwing out technical terms and phrases like “you need to understand” or “you should do this” can unintentionally create distance. It usually comes across as a little condescending, too. That’s the last emotion you want when you’re aiming to collaborate.

Instead, try swapping out “you” for “we.” It’s a subtle shift that makes a world of difference.

An Example

I worked with an organization late last year to improve their work management system and overall reliability.

In this example, instead of saying:

"You need to upgrade this system to avoid downtime.”

Say:

"We can prevent downtime by upgrading this system together.”

This small change makes you part of the solution. It shows you’re not just pointing out problems. Instead, you’re rolling up your sleeves and tackling them alongside the team.

It’s no longer about what they don’t know; it’s about what we can achieve.

“We” Positions You as a Partner

The magic of “we” is that it positions you as a partner, not a critic. It demonstrates alignment and shared goals that decision makers value. They’re far more likely to trust your recommendations when they feel like you’re in the trenches with them.

It Takes Practice

The simple switch may seem intuitive, but it’s tough for technical experts to do. It takes lots of conscious effort and practice.

Communicate with FINESSE

So, the next time you present to a room full of executives, do a quick mental check. Swap "you" for "we," and watch how it transforms the conversation. It's a simple tweak that makes you not just a technical expert, but a trusted collaborator.

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Communicating with FINESSE is the not-for-profit community of technical professionals dedicated to being highly effective communicators and facilitators. Visit our Tackle Shop for communication and facilitation resources. Join the community for free.

The Bottom Fin of the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram

The elements of the FINESSE fishbone diagram® are Frame, Illustrate, Noise reduction, Empathy, Structure, Synergy, and Ethics.

Communicating related to big decisions is a long game. Many presentations involving uncertainties and changing information will be made over months if not years. The FINESSE fishbone diagram provides the seven essential elements for effective communication for big decisions. Playing on the theme of a fish, a fish’s bottom fin provides it with stability. Let's explore the bottom fin of the FINESSE fishbone diagram.

The Audience Comes Second

Unlike most communication training, which stresses the customer comes first, when it comes to big decisions, the data and information come first.

"Truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it." – Flannery O'Connor

Many presentations and reports are made throughout reaching a big decision. Those presentations and reports are made to a variety of the decision maker's inner circle. Placating or sugarcoating the information to one group will ruin your credibility with the next group. Stay true to what the data and information are telling you.

It’s Not Your Decision to Make

A decision is an irrevocable allocation of resources. One person is usually responsible for that allocation, but an inner circle of advisors will be involved in big decisions.

“A decision is the irrevocable allocation of resources, while an intended course of action remains a plan until the decision is made.” – Ron Howard.

A simple rule is that you are an analyst or subject matter expert if you are making a presentation. You may also be a trusted advisor but remember that trusted advisors usually provide verbal insights. In all cases, the decision maker is not making the presentation.

Deep Respect for the Decision Maker

Decision makers come is all shapes and sizes, with many levels of knowledge and experience. Regardless, the decision belongs to the decision maker, not you.

“Have endless respect for the decision maker. It may be a bit naive, but it is the right choice." -Edward Tufte

Many of us serve in decision making roles, whether it’s managing a department or a team. In those cases, we do not want our staff or our peers selectively providing data and information for decisions that are ours to make. The same can be said when we serve in a support role. Use the golden rule—treat others how you wish to be treated.

Bone 4: Empathy

Empathy is the ability to place someone in another person’s (or species’) mental or spiritual position. While the concept of “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes” is widely accepted, there are several challenges related to effectively communicating to decision makers on issues with high degrees of complexity and uncertainty.

"No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care."- President Theodore Roosevelt

Is empathy a learned skill or a natural trait? It's probably some of both, which means some people are naturally more effective communicators. In contrast, others have to work much harder at being effective communicators.

Empathy starts with understanding that it is all about the decision maker, not you.

Bone 5: Structure

Structure applies to written reports as well as verbal presentations. For multiple-event communication, there is a structure to the series of events and within each event. Each report and presentation within an event also requires a structure.

“Start at the end & work backward. This applies to writing emails, creating speeches, managing projects, planning events, or reaching goals.” — Dianna Booher

Business professionals do not have the time to understand all the details of reports and presentations, so it is desirable to start with the conclusions.

Bone 6: Synergy

There is simply too much information for decision makers to process objectively on their own. Plus, social reinforcement is needed when dealing with what are frequently felt to be the most important decisions of the year (or career).

“There are compelling social reasons for group cooperation.” - Paul Shoemaker

Group effects matter most when conveying technical information with high complexity and uncertainty.

What’s All of This Fin Stuff?

FINESSE is grounded in systems thinking and cause-and-effect relationships. The FINESSE fishbone diagram's elements (or bones) are Frame, Illustrate, Noise, Empathy, Structure, Synergy, and Ethics.

While working on the visuals associated with the FINESSE fishbone diagram, we debated whether the skeleton should have fins or just bones. We chose the traditional depiction with just bones, but it created thought around the purpose of the fins.

The bottom fins of a fish, its pelvic fins, provide balance and stability, aid in precise movements like braking or hovering, and assist in minor directional control.

The second three bones of FINESSE are all about the audience. Like the bottom fin of a fish, the audience provides balance and stability for technically trained professionals communicating about big decisions.

FIN-ESSE

The seven bones of the FINESSE fishbone diagram are necessary and sufficient for effective communication for big decisions. Like any system, the performance of each bone does not have to be prefect as long as each is addressed and all work together.

The Fins of FINESSE provide some helpful associations. The bottom fin of FINESSE, the audience, provides us with our balance. Next, we’ll discuss the tail fin of FINESSE, ethics, which propel us forward.

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Communicating with FINESSE is the not-for-profit community of technical professionals dedicated to being highly effective communicators and facilitators. Visit our Tackle Shop for communication and facilitation resources. Join the community for free.

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JD Solomon served in executive leadership roles at two Fortune 500 companies before starting JD Solomon, Inc., just before the pandemic. JD is the founder of Communicating with FINESSE®, the creator of the FINESSE fishbone diagram®, and the co-creator of the SOAP criticality method©. He is the author of Communicating Reliability, Risk & Resiliency to Decision Makers: How to Get Your Boss’s Boss to Understand and Facilitating with FINESSE: A Guide to Successful Business Solutions.