How do you embrace election results?

The votes are tallied, results are in, and victory or concession speeches delivered. Euphoria for some, dread for others. Take time for celebration and mourning; both feelings are real and justified.

We have all won and lost; each is an opportunity? Is there gloating, boasting, and shaming of the opposition? Does the slightest victory fuel ideas of a mandate from the entire populous? Do anger, resentment, and a desire to hamstring the winners flood your being?

Raw emotions are an opportunity to understand our motives and what drives us. The artist probes the depth of passion for inspiration to pen a lyric, scribble a poem, or fill a canvas. We draw near to our family and friends through celebrations, suffering, and sorrows. Now is the time to hear the whispers of the heart that are drowned out during the heat of battle.

What effort do you put into listening to a cross section of the opposition? The election is done and provides an opportunity to set aside our bias to actually hear how others see the world. Before the vote, we are too busy forming a rebuttal to listen to what was said. Now is a time to listen, empathize, and possibly hear for the first time.

If approaching from a position of victory, it is time to listen for how to serve the minority. If approaching from a position of loss, it is time to listen to how the majority of the electorate sees the world. In either case, setting aside stereotypes and approaching with mere curiosity will surprise even the most certain.

Give your favorite news outlet and the national talking heads a chance to rest. The neighbor over the back fence is ready to talk honestly. You and I are complicated individuals and painting with a broad brush doesn't work.

Our nation is too beautiful to overlook the elegant details that comprise the mosaic of people. Differences will always be present. The temptation to divisiveness and hatred will always be an option. However, a daily choice is to treasure the physical and relational mosaic or smear paint over it with the broad brush of generalization.

Regardless of what political party takes office, you won. You get to choose today; detailed brush or broad brush?

How do you wait for election results?

The phone calls are done. The fundraising push is complete. Yard signs are scrapped. No need to cull the Internet for opposition dirt. TV advertisers turn full force to Christmas, still seven weeks away. Facebook will return to a cat video site. And some climb out of their cave of isolation, after trying to avoid the rancor.

Now, much of the world waits. And yet, a sizeable number are oblivious or don't care.

What if there is not a clear winner? Do we revive discussions about hanging chads? How many recounts will it take?

Networks call the Senate races. State and local questions are decided to nudge the country in different directions, like squeezing a full balloon. The news outlets internally struggle to battle the risk/reward calculus of calling a race. The coffee and energy drinks flow like water to keep everyone alert until a decision is declared.

What is your internal struggle about who wins?

Will the world actually fall off its axis if the opposition wins? Is your candidate really capable of saving the world? We voted for fallible humans, not superheroes.

Is it too early to remember the words we spoke during the runup to the election? If the votes are not looking good, do you start packing tonight in pursuit of the Canadian border?

The neighbor that shared tears and waved the flag when the towers fell has now become the ignorant hater that deserves nothing less than a social media firing squad. This righteous volley is earned because of a different opinion that is protected by the Constitution. Please take the time to listen to their reason before pressing "send." we may all learn something.

Abraham Lincoln knew the path to rebuilding the country was humility. The Confederate soldiers were allowed to return home with their weapons as a means to maintain a shred of honor.

146 million are registered to vote, and the pundits anticipate a result too close to provide a mandate for governance. 70 million is a lot of people to disregard and call misguided losers.

As the numbers tally, and your candidate wears the victor's wreath, look to Lincoln and know the path forward is paved with humility.

Enjoy the celebration tonight, for we have a country to rebuild tomorrow.

How is humility displayed in your organization?

This inquiry assumes humility is a desirable trait in an organization and seeks to identify where it exists.

Merriam-Webster defines humility as; "the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people."

It is not bragging if you answer the question.

How do you and your co-laborers display this virtue?