My journey into social media has been largely influenced by Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers. So, his tweet about taking a 48-hour fast from Twitter caught my attention. I immediately followed the link to his post here to see what was up.

It was an experiment to explore the effects of Twitter on different areas of his life. It was a relief to learn that I shouldn’t experience withdrawal pains if I decide to turn the network off for awhile.

While Michael’s discussion of “The Twitter Effect” was helpful, there was something more to be learned. I hadn’t visited his blog looking for this particular insight. I didn’t expect it. But there it was.

Throughout the post, I noticed subtle evidences of some of the top qualities that define “great leadership.” I’ve listed seven:

1. Great leaders publicly acknowledge others. In the first line of his post, Michael let the whole world know that Anne Jackson was his friend and that she had his attention. That probably encouraged Anne and brightened her day just a little.

2. Great leaders are open to the ideas of others. The idea for the challenge was Anne’s. Even though it didn’t initially conform to Michael’s thinking, he was open to considering it. He didn’t just dismiss it outright either. Even after saying “no” to the experiment he reevaluated his position. He determined that the exercise might actually teach him something. He went forward.

3. Great leaders are readers. We hear this statement a lot. “Not all readers are leaders but all great leaders are readers.” For good reason. It’s true. Michael said, “I read a lot.” Granted, it might be occupational malpractice for the leader of the largest Christian publishing company in the world to say he doesn’t read very much. But I think it’s safe to say that he REALLY loves reading.

4. Great leaders are listeners. Michael listened to what Anne had to say. He mentioned, as he frequently does in his writings, the enjoyment of seeking and absorbing information from those around him. That’s not possible if you’re doing most of the talking. (I’m working on this one.)

5. Great leaders are learners. The Twitter experiment was undertaken to enlarge Michael’s understanding of social media’s influence in his life. This post, like so many before it, reveals his quest for discovery.

6. Great leaders share what they’ve learned. That was the reason for the post. Michael’s motivation always seems to lean toward helping others learn and grow. I bet this passion for serving others is evident in many other areas of his work and life.

7. Great leaders live their values. It’s not a role they play. It’s who they are. It’s demonstrated every day through what they say and do…and blog and tweet.

I didn’t plan to write this post today. I didn’t expect to get a lesson on leadership from a post on fasting from Twitter. And that’s the point. We’ve all heard the common expression “You get what you pay for?” Well, not in this case.

Sitting in Michael Hyatt’s virtual classroom, I’ve been getting a high-quality education at a bargain price. I have received much more than I ever expected when the journey began. Sometimes, when I’ve least expected it. I thought it was high time to say thanks for all that he freely gives and all that I’ve learned. About social media, blogging…and leadership too.

Saying it in the blog that he helped me create just seemed appropriate.

Question: What have you learned from Michael Hyatt?