This week I found myself thinking about something that completely transformed the way I coach. When most coaches think about improving their sessions, they focus on asking better questions. And that's important. But over the years, I've realised that some of the biggest breakthroughs don't come from asking more questions... They come from making people feel understood. When a client feels understood, they stop defending themselves. They stop trying to justify their behaviour. They stop trying to prove they're right. And that's when the real coaching begins. Here are three phrases I come back to over and over again. 1. "I agree..." This doesn't mean agreeing with everything your client says. It means acknowledging something that's true. "I agree this is important." "I agree this has been difficult." "I agree it's worth exploring." It's amazing how quickly that lowers resistance. 2. "I can see that..." "I can see why that's been frustrating." "I can see how much this matters to you." "I can see why you've been carrying that." Clients don't just want better strategies. They want to feel seen. When they do, trust grows. 3. "Help me understand..." This may be the most powerful coaching phrase there is. "Help me understand what's happening for you." "Help me understand what you're feeling in that moment." "Help me understand what makes that so important." Curiosity always creates better coaching than certainty. As coaches, our job isn't to be the smartest person in the conversation. It's to create an environment where people feel safe enough to discover their own answers. I've found that the coaches who have the biggest impact aren't the ones with the most knowledge. They're the ones who make people feel the most understood.