What Managers Really Mean in Performance Reviews

Performance reviews are written to be defensible, which is not the same as being clear. If you have ever left one unsure whether it went well, you are not alone.

Phrases worth asking about

• "Growing into the role" — usually means the bar has moved; ask where exactly.
• "Great to work with" — real, but on its own it is not evidence of impact.
• "More visibility" — often means senior people cannot describe your work yet.
• "Ready for more scope" — the opening you want; ask what would need to be true.

The follow-up question matters more than the review itself. "What would a strong version of this look like in six months?" turns a vague summary into a plan.