Turns out ‘white anting’ is an Australian term. According to the Macquarie Dictionary, the verb means ‘to subvert or undermine from within’.
What is White Anting?
It’s namesake, the wood eating white ant (aka a termite), can’t survive in the open. That’s why you don’t usually see any sign of these pests until it’s too late. When you discover the serious damage they’ve caused.
One of my coaching clients had this inkling she was being white anted by one of her peers. Take that gut feel seriously my friend.
That peer, The White Ant was doing a mighty fine job of being just that, a white ant. The White Ant had their mutual boss under her thumb. My client was being denied resources, recognition and, potentially, reputation.
So, how did my client survive with her integrity and sanity intact? With support, here’s what she did consistently:
- Her job, completing the projects she had within her remit successfully. Even though it did mean working longer hours to achieve it.
- Played a straight bat. She deflected The White Ant damage as much as humanly possible.
- Played the ball, not the man. It was always about the work. There was no way she would ever become part of any white ant colony.
And guess what? The good guy won!
My client was headhunted and has both jumped up to the C-Suite and out to an organisation with an excellent reputation.
This was not an easy road by any means. It was some time before she reached out to me for external support. And, as it turns out, I was the first person who took her concerns seriously.
No, she wasn’t over-reacting. No, she wasn’t doing anything wrong. And yes, while her well being took a bit of a hit, it could have been way worse for way longer. And she never compromised on her integrity. There’s a lot to be said for being able to sleep well at night.
What do you think? Scroll down to leave your comment.
Photo by alinemorais20120 on Pixabay.
Note: An anteater doesn’t lose its integrity or sanity doing its job, eating white ants. Neither should you.
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Love it! That is SO hard to do and to go through. It’s great to read a success story about someone else who went through it.
Yes, Marcia. This is SO hard. I’m assuming you went through it too from your comment. Hope it is well behind you now, with few and faded scars.
Oh my golly gosh – I am looking in a mirror. So very true. My white ant also has boxing gloves and is a first class bully. But head held high, do the job and hope like hell I can escape soon.
Thanks, Anitra! Keep holding your head high. And I hope you have the support you need. Don’t underestimate this. I have seen dreadful consequences when these situations aren’t well handled and you’re not well supported along the way.
I’m having the same thing happen to me working at an international school. Nepotism is rife, the new head of school has been misinformed about myself and some colleagues (the old ones who remain). The new Curriculum coordinator is an old colleague who doesnt know how to do his job and passes his brilliant ideas onto us to work with.
Truth is he’s messing up, and I especially, get white-anted.
It’s horrible, soul destroying, especially as it calls into question my integrity. Sleepless nights, tears and depression… and I’m a 35 years old guy who’s been teaching for 11 years.
I am so sorry to hear this. I hope the tips help. Do them as best you can. And seek support from a psychologist or somebody skilled in helping people dealing with this kind of trauma at work. It’s important for your wellbeing. Hold onto your integrity and trust yourself and your skills. While there’s no silver bullet, remember that this too shall pass. Whether it’s by moving on or finding a way through, I wish you well.