Habit, Not Hack: MGMM — Make Group Meetings Matter
Every lab meeting is a free class in what no one teaches you.
The first time I sat in a lab meeting, I didn’t speak once.
Not because I wasn’t paying attention. I was wide-eyed, hyper-alert, and writing down things I barely understood. But I had no clue what my role was. Was I supposed to present? Ask questions? Nod wisely like everyone else seemed to be doing?
So I stayed quiet. Every week. For months.
Eventually, I realized: lab meetings aren’t spectator events - they’re where real training happens. But you have to know how to show up for them. Not just physically, but mentally, strategically, and humbly.
The Problem: New Students Stay Quiet, Miss the Learning
Many new grad students sit through lab or group meetings like they’re watching a documentary in a language they barely speak. You think you're learning by osmosis, but without a plan, you're just… there.
And if you're not presenting, it’s tempting to tune out, scroll, or mentally rehearse your to-do list.
But here’s the truth: some of your biggest lessons in grad school will happen in other people’s meetings.
You’ll hear how people explain their problems.
You’ll see what impresses your PI and what irritates them.
You’ll witness how feedback is given, received, and sometimes dodged.
But you only benefit if you actively participate, even when you’re not “on deck.”
The Habit: MGMM — Make Group Meetings Matter (Even When You’re Not the Presenter)
Here’s how to turn passive meetings into active growth sessions:
Before the Meeting: Know the Agenda (or Create One for Yourself)
If the meeting is structured, get the agenda or topic list in advance. Read abstracts, skim papers, review any updates.
If there’s no formal agenda, set a personal one:
What’s one thing I hope to learn?
Who’s presenting? What stage are they in?
Do I understand enough to ask a useful question?
Write it down, just for yourself. This sets your brain to observe with purpose.
During the Meeting: Be a Silent Strategist
Whether or not you speak, do these three things:
Take notes like you’ll need to explain it to someone else.
(Even better, imagine you’ll need to apply this idea to your own project.)Track questions and terms you don’t understand.
(Don’t be afraid to write down “??” next to a phrase or plot.)Look for patterns.
How does your PI respond to good vs. vague answers?
What kinds of questions spark discussion?
Who always seems prepared and how?
This is professional development in disguise.
When You Speak: Practice Precision and Curiosity
If you’re presenting: keep it tight, own your confusion, ask for input.
If you’re commenting: ask thoughtful, open-ended questions. Something like:
“Can you walk us through how you decided on that model?”
“What’s your backup plan if the next trial doesn’t work?”
You don’t need to be right. You just need to be engaged.
People remember that more than your silence.
After the Meeting: Capture, Reflect, Apply
Don’t close your laptop and move on.
Review your notes
Follow up on new terms or references
If something inspired or confused you, talk about it with a peer, or even email the presenter
And if your meeting is recurring, consider keeping a Lab Meeting Journal. Just 5–10 lines each time. Over time, this becomes a goldmine of insight and reminders.
Try This at Your Next Lab Meeting
Before:
Read the agenda or a recent paper by the presenter
Set one learning goal for yourself
Bring 2 thoughtful questions (even if you don’t ask them)
During:
Take notes like it’s your data
Watch for patterns in how your PI responds
Write down 3 things you learned
After:
Review, reflect, apply
Optional: debrief with a peer or mentor
You’ll go from “the quiet one in the corner” to someone people trust and learn from.
Why This Habit Pays Off
People start to notice you, not because you’re flashy, but because you’re consistent.
You ask good questions. You understand what’s going on. You grow faster.
And when it’s your turn to present, you’re not terrified, you’re ready. You’ve seen how it’s done.
That’s not a hack.
That’s a habit.
