I find that as long as a guy im checking out is safe then im not to botherd about the company SOP,s as there is more than one way to skin a cat.
However SPO,s on a multi crew aircraft are the base of good CRM and must be used.
I have seen new instructors who aspire to the airlines trying to fly a PA28 as if it was a 747 and i think that this is the root of the problem.