Has anyone on the sales floor noticed a change in the tenor of coachings? This new program with the videos you're required to view (while trying not to laugh at the juvenile presentation) is going to require SMs to badger you with selling techniques, etc. SMs are require to push this down the throat of even the most seasoned sales professional, in an effort to begin the process of weeding out long standing and higher paid, individuals. Essentially, by targeting the higher paid and longer standing SAs with this program, the process of involuntary exit will begin (find something to fire them on).
Many of you will also be blindsided when you go into your first coaching under this new program as you will be surprised to learn your SM has been compiling a very long list of your perceived sins (such as a lunch that was a couple of minutes too long, a mis-sized rack of clothing, maybe you didn't smile big enough at the nice fellow in your department 4 1/2 weeks ago on a Saturday evening at 9:27 PM). This will be presented to you in the usual manner and gone over with you in detail. You will then be pushed into a discussion of why these things happen and how you're going to change your behavior. The discussion will be framed in such a way that the SM feigns concern for your happiness at work, with no regard for any experience that you've had on the floor and/or reported to management (which you should not do any longer--nothing will change. Do not report things to mgmt. Watch out for you fellow associates and keep quiet at all costs. Reduce the number of things you tell your SM and you'll have a lessened stress level quickly).
SAs, you have been warned. Be very careful of the way you interact with any of your SMs or SSs. Be even more careful of how you react to your VPSM and VPASM when you see them. It is recommended you avoid the VPSM and VPASM if you can. It is becoming apparent to anyone who sees these programs (beyond the store level) that battle lines are being drawn--red badge v. white.