Prelude to Disclosure Day

So, you have set everything up and you are going to let everyone at your workplace know what is going on. Great! Fantastic! Good for you!

Wait a sec. Back up.

So often we see this process as one-way interaction. I tell the world and the world has to accept me. Right? They HAVE to, right?

Sure. Legally. In some places.

Set the process to pause for a minute and think about the other people. The ones you are telling and will interact with.

If you have friends at work (many people do). Will they be offended if they are lumped in with everyone else? You may think about a private session with those close to you. The trick is to get people as allies and not as adversaries. By lumping them into the big group then you are telling them that you didn't trust them. A slightly early disclosure can be slanted as you didn't want to burden them.

Your boss. Do this meeting slightly early as well. Depending on your relationship with your boss you may or may not want HR at the initial meeting.

"Hi Boss. I need to have a meeting with you and HR on Monday at 9:30, okay? Have a good weekend!"

That would(does) not go over well. The whole weekend the Boss is wondering about the impending lawsuit.

All I am saying is thin about the other people a bit. You can keep this whole process from turning ugly.