We could all use some alone time, why leadership is (partly) about being liked, and more top insights

What’s happening in the world of work: The Saturday edition of the Daily Rundown highlights the business trends, perspectives, and hot topics you need to know to work smarter. Read on and join the conversation.

We could all use some alone time: Solitude suffers from a bad reputation, particularly in the West. But unlike loneliness, which is associated with conditions like anxiety and depression, alone time offers all kinds of benefits, reports Micaela Marini Higgs in The New York Times. Carving out time for ourselves can help us with emotional regulation, reduce burnout, boost our creativity and improve our relationships with others. The key to healthy alone time? Choosing when and how we’d like to be on our own. When we opt into solitude, doing activities we enjoy, we can relax and recharge. • Here’s what people are saying. 

Leadership is (partly) about being liked: Effective managers won’t be liked by all, and certainly not all of the time. But recent research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology suggests such positive sentiment can go a long way. The researchers found that a manager’s likeability had a marked effect on how employees ranked them on other qualities, like authentic, ethical and transformational leadership. The findings suggest that, while likeability isn’t everything, it would be unwise for leaders to ignore it altogether. • Here’s what people are saying. 

You Asked:  “I am a mid-level manager for a retail chain with higher aspirations. I am managing my department with higher efficiency than the previous year and my employees enjoy working for me. I am in the middle of obtaining my MBA and I want to make the jump to a corporate job. But I feel I am being stonewalled and that my superiors ‘like me in the position I am in.’ Any advice would be great.”— Kurt, deli manager in Palmerton, Penn. • Join the conversation. 

• “If your managers like you in the position you’re in, it means you’re probably doing a good job, and it would be easier to not replace you. If you need the approval of your supervisors to move into a corporate job, try thinking about it from their perspective. What’s in it for them? One idea is to help them look good. If they do a good job of training you, and you then make the jump, then they might be seen as a good training ground for employees. Alternatively, think about how you could start to get some experience in the corporate world. Could you shadow some employees in those roles? Could you take on side projects? Do your managers need analysis done to make their jobs easier? Lastly, look for examples of others who have made this jump, either within your company or in other companies. Talk to them about how they navigated this transition successfully.” — Mollie Duffy, design lead at IDEO and co-author of “No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work”
• “Your dream and desired path is clear and you deserve to be in pursuit of it. Our research supports that people are at their best cognitively, emotionally and in terms of performance when they are engaged and motivated. But people change and need more challenges. That is your position. The options at this point for you are: (1) Have a conversation with your boss, and then ask to speak to his/her boss. In those conversations, explain your dream and the steps you are taking to get there. Point out how committed you are to the company and use your performance as evidence. Then add that people need change or they atrophy. So, do they want to help and keep you or not? Have a timeline of when you want the change. (2) The second option is to begin looking for a corporate job and, when one you like is offered, take it. Or have the conversations first and then look for a new job. It seems to me their desire to keep you in your current position is because you are so good at it. You will be an asset to the company in any position. So push them!” — Richard Boyatzis, psychology professor at Case Western Reserve University and co-author of “Helping People Change: Coaching with Compassion for Lifelong Learning and Growth”
• “Congratulations on the fantastic growth you're seeing in your people and in your department's efficiency. I'm sorry to hear that you feel stuck in a dead-end situation. I'd encourage you to share your aspirations with your superiors and explore whether they can help you chart a pathway to your goal, even if it isn't immediate or even within the company. If it turns out they're unable or unwilling to help, you still have a golden opportunity to use your MBA to make a career pivot out of your company or even out of that industry. Perhaps an internship may ease the transition if you feel it’s too big of a jump. Use your time as a student to seek advice and cultivate meaningful professional relationships outside of your company. Whatever you do, waiting on a manager who refuses to commit to your progress can be a huge time sink and emotional burden. If you can’t rely on support from your current company, shake the dust from your feet and keep moving along your purpose path.” — Nicholas Pearce, professor at Northwestern Kellogg and author of “The Purpose Path: A Guide to Pursuing Your Authentic Life's Work”

Looking for career advice from the pros? Submit your questions in the comments with #YouAsked and we’ll take care of the rest.

Diverse hiring pays dividends: The 20 most diverse companies in the S&P 500 achieved higher operating profit margins (12% vs. 8%) and enjoyed greater stock returns (10% vs. 4.2%) than the 20 least diverse firms on the index, according to analysis from The Wall Street Journal. Who’s at the head of the diverse hiring pack? Insurance company Progressive and banking giant JPMorgan Chase, ranking No. 1 and No. 2 on WSJ’s list. The winning firms connect their diverse hiring to their ability to develop novel products and think more creatively. • Here’s what people are saying. 

What’s holding women entrepreneurs back: If women and men jumped into entrepreneurship at equal rates, the global economy could gain as much as $5 trillion in additional activity, according to research from The Boston Consulting Group. But in many regions across the world, prospective female entrepreneurs face strong headwinds. The main culprits? Gaining access to funding is one. But the other, perhaps more vexing challenge? Developing a strong network of people who can offer advice and key connections to get women’s companies up and running. This is where large corporations can offer a helping hand, and benefit in the process, BCG suggests. • Here’s what people are saying. 

One last idea: Many of us find ourselves giving vast portions of our time and energy to our work. But musician Thom Yorke reminds us that we should consistently check in and make sure that our efforts are worth the sacrifice. • Here’s what people are saying.  

“You get to a point where if you’re choosing to spend your time away from your family, it has to be worth it, and it’s only worth it if you’re really getting something from it. You have to claim it for yourself and understand why you love it.”

What's your take? Join the conversations on today's stories in the comments.

— Scott Olster