Congratulations and good luck!!
Maybe you can take them all out to lunch the day before it is officially announced and be real humble and sincere when you tell them about it. That might make them feel like they're in your 'inner circle' and help them to take it a little better. (After all they probably will already know... especially if it's a small office... those rumor mills can be brutal!)
Or better yet... take them to a happy hour. Let the liquor loosen their lips a little so you find out how they really feel!
Now if they will be reporting to you, that could open up a whole new can of worms. As long as you are being honest, sincere and from the heart, it should be hard for any decent person to get POd. And if they do... sic Janet on them!
