Performance review cycle feels more intense this year.

Okay, so the annual performance review cycle just wrapped up, and honestly, it felt way more intense than usual. The feedback felt sharper, and there was a lot more emphasis on 'impact' and 'meeting expectations.' Usually, it's a pretty standard process, but this time around, it felt like there was a lot more scrutiny on everyone's contributions. My manager kept bringing up how the company needs to be lean and effective, which is fair, but the way it was framed during reviews felt... loaded. It's got me wondering if this is preparation for something, or just a general push for higher productivity across the board. We haven't had any official layoff news, thank goodness, but the vibe during reviews was definitely different. Less 'how can we help you grow' and more 'here's where you need to improve to meet the bar.' Anyone else feel this way? Did your reviews feel more high-stakes or critical this year? Trying to figure out if I'm overthinking it or if there's a broader trend happening internally. It's hard to shake the feeling when the tone shifts so noticeably. Curious to hear what others experienced.