In our fourth and final blog post on equality, diversity and inclusion, Guy Parker, Chief Executive of the ASA, talks about a quote that stuck with him; an update on ‘the golden rule’…

I heard a great quote at our recent diversity event: “It’s not enough now to treat others how we want them to treat us. We must treat them how they want to be treated.”

I like it because it takes the ‘golden rule’ - the law of reciprocity – and raises it. And in so doing, it makes at least two vital points.

First, the way I want to be treated might well be different to the way you want to be treated. And second, the onus is on me to make an effort to find out how you want to be treated.

This really matters. I want us to create and maintain an environment at the ASA where everyone feels they belong, everyone feels they’re supported and everyone feels they can prosper.

I don’t just want that because it’s right – although that’s a compelling motivation. I want it because it makes good business sense. I believe that if we can attract and keep a diverse work force, we will be better regulators. We’ll benefit from the different backgrounds, different skills, different ideas and different behaviours of our people.

We’re making progress at the ASA on many fronts, but there’s plenty for us still to do. Which is why the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Celebratory Week we held recently – brilliantly organised and curated by our Equality and Diversity Officers – is so important for raising awareness and helping us to skill-up.

With inspiring speakers and excellent attendance from colleagues, I think we’ve gone a long way to making EDI part of our DNA. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event. 

 

You can read our previous blogs from our Equality and Diversity Officer, Craig Jones and Miles Lockwood to find out why equality, diversity and inclusion are so important to our people here at the ASA, and why they are so vital to the work we do as a regulator.

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Guy became Chief Executive of the ASA, the UK regulator of ads in all media, in 2009.  Responsible for executing the ASA’s strategy to make UK ads responsible, he oversees all functions of the ASA system. Read more