Long time reader, first time caller here.
I'm sorry if the below seems to me more of a rant than any questions but I feel it fits this sub perfectly.
The company I work for are In the midst of annual review BS and I had a meeting with my People Manager (Which is what the company have recently renamed Line Managers to make them seem more approachable) to make sure we were on the same page on things I think I've 'exceeded expectations' at to which their response was “Are you exceeding or just doing really well?”
To me that's the same thing, there's a category for Outstanding which I would never put unless I was nominated for like am award for excellence in work.
They said “I've been really proud of you this year” so I'm obviously doing better than 'achieving' which is turning up and doing the job then going home.
People within the company have not been promoted for not 'showing amibition' in the past and I don't want in two years time (I've currently worked here 3 years so 5 years and at 35 seems like the right time to push for a promotion, hopefully….) for me to apply for a higher role and they say 'well you're only just achieving at your normal role, why would we hire you for the step above?'