Coaching and the Roads We Take - A Reflection

During a recent mentoring session with an extraordinary group of individuals in coaching training, one of the students mentioned Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken.” In that moment, I was inspired to explore the connection between Frost’s words and the practice of coaching. space, where profound decisions unfold.

In my journey as a coach, I have witnessed countless moments where clients pause at their own “yellow wood,” grappling with choices that feel weighty, uncertain, or overwhelming. As coaches, our role is not to chart the course for them but to stand with them at the crossroads—holding space, illuminating possibilities, and gently encouraging the exploration of paths they might otherwise overlook.

Frost’s reflection on the two paths is a profound reminder of how decisions shape our stories. One road, described as “grassy and wanting wear,” might initially seem more enticing. Yet, as Frost observes, the paths often aren’t so different after all. Similarly, in coaching, a client’s options may feel starkly opposed, but as the conversation deepens, clarity often emerges—not from the external choice itself, but from aligning the decision with the client’s inner values and intentions.

Frost’s final reflection, “I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference,” resonates deeply with my personal story. Transitioning into coaching after years in another field was my own “less traveled” road—a path that has proven transformational. It has not only enriched my life but also allowed me to walk alongside clients as they step into their authentic journeys. Guiding them to embrace their unique paths, even when those roads feel unconventional or uncertain, remains one of the greatest rewards of this work. The “sigh” Frost mentions at the end of the poem isn’t necessarily one of regret. Rather, it’s a sigh of reflection—a recognition of the gravity and beauty of choices made with intention and courage.

At its heart, coaching is about empowering others to make such choices. It’s about standing at the crossroads with our clients—not as guides who point the way, but as partners who ask, “What will this decision mean for you?” and “What might be possible if you trusted this path?”

Leaving that mentoring session, I was reminded of a profound truth: we, too, as coaches, have chosen the “less travelled” road. It is a path that requires patience, presence, and vulnerability, but as Frost so eloquently said, it is the road that makes all the difference

Joao Luiz Pasqual is a Partner, at Selion Global, based in Brazil, a seasoned Leadership Advisor and an Executive Coach to top leaders and executives around the world.