How to beat the 80 / 20 dynamic in volunteer organizations (aka Pareto Principle)
It has been cited that in many volunteer organizations 80% of the work is done by 20% of the volunteers. So what do the 80% do?
At one firm I worked for, we had a rule that I recommend to all because it is so effective:
"If you say in a meeting that 'someone' should do _______' then you are the someone."
It works like this someone in a group meeting says "we should have a bake sale" and if there is agreement on the bale sale then the person who suggested it is tasked with it. If someone says "we should change all the lightbulbs in our offices to LED" then they get the task of researching, getting approvals and getting up on the ladder and changing the bulbs themselves.
It really cuts down on people suggesting stuff for others to do that they themselves are unwilling to do. Also reduces criticism of others because we also would apply it to those who say something should be done differently.
