This article was originally published on ComeRecommended.com.

It’s no surprise confidence is a very important trait to have when it comes to your career. It’s good to be confident in your skills and confident you will advance at work. But how much confidence is too much?

Careerealism recently wrote about a study that found employees with big egos and who believe they deserved more were more likely to claim they had an abusive boss and were being mistreated. The study also looked at employees who had the same boss, and in those cases, the big ego employees still reported more abuse from their managers than their co-workers with smaller egos.

So, for those of you who feel like you’re being mistreated at work, maybe your boss isn’t the problem. It could actually be your own ego.

Stop Feeling So Important

According to the research, people who feel they are more entitled than others cannot accept criticism so easily. They believe they deserve more rewards and praise for their work than are actually warranted by their performance.

Even if you are truly great at what you do, there’s a fine line between confidence and being cocky. Nobody is perfect, and if you feel you’re above the job you’re currently in, you need to do something about it. Don’t let it get to a point when you develop a negative relationship with your boss. Aim to get a promotion or a new job altogether.

Be Open To Feedback

Like I said before, nobody is perfect. There will be many times in your career where you will be subject to constructive criticism. You are not above receiving feedback from your boss.

It’s important to see feedback for what it is. You boss just wants you and your team to improve. When giving feedback, your boss is not usually intending to be abusive. Take it as a necessary teaching moment, rather than a way to criticize you personally.

In fact, a good way to receive feedback that is less likely to hurt your ego is to ask for it on your own terms. Reach out to your boss or someone else to give you an honest and constructive review of your work. When you ask for the feedback yourself, you’ll be less likely to perceive it as an attack.

What If It Still Feels Abusive?

If, after an ego check, you still feel your boss is abusive, it might be time to find a new job. Feeling abused will impact your work performance and your health, according to Careerealism. Your best option is to get yourself out of the situation altogether. Leave your job on a good note, rather than letting a bad situation get worse.

With this study in mind, think about your own situation at work. Do you feel you are more entitled than your co-workers? Do you feel you receive more abuse from your boss? Whatever the case, think about what could be causing these negative situations. If it’s something you can fix yourself, do it now before it gets any worse.

Have you experienced abuse from a boss? What did you do about it?