diff --git a/agent-teams-controller/src/internal/runtimeHelpers.js b/agent-teams-controller/src/internal/runtimeHelpers.js
index 3f9e88ad..78d19b90 100644
--- a/agent-teams-controller/src/internal/runtimeHelpers.js
+++ b/agent-teams-controller/src/internal/runtimeHelpers.js
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@ const crypto = require('crypto');
 
 const TASK_ATTACHMENTS_DIR = 'task-attachments';
 const MAX_TASK_ATTACHMENT_BYTES = 20 * 1024 * 1024;
+const TEAM_NAME_PATTERN = /^[a-z0-9][a-z0-9-]{0,127}$/;
+const CROSS_TEAM_TOOL_RECIPIENT_NAMES = new Set([
+  'cross_team_send',
+  'cross_team_list_targets',
+  'cross_team_get_outbox',
+]);
 
 function nowIso() {
   return new Date().toISOString();
@@ -46,6 +52,39 @@ function assertSafePathSegment(label, value) {
   return normalized;
 }
 
+function looksLikeQualifiedExternalRecipient(name) {
+  const trimmed = String(name || '').trim();
+  const dot = trimmed.indexOf('.');
+  if (dot <= 0 || dot === trimmed.length - 1) return false;
+  const teamName = trimmed.slice(0, dot).trim();
+  const memberName = trimmed.slice(dot + 1).trim();
+  return TEAM_NAME_PATTERN.test(teamName) && memberName.length > 0;
+}
+
+function looksLikeCrossTeamPseudoRecipient(name) {
+  const trimmed = String(name || '').trim();
+  const prefixes = [
+    'cross_team::',
+    'cross_team--',
+    'cross-team:',
+    'cross-team-',
+    'cross_team:',
+    'cross_team-',
+  ];
+  for (const prefix of prefixes) {
+    if (!trimmed.startsWith(prefix)) continue;
+    const teamName = trimmed.slice(prefix.length).trim();
+    if (TEAM_NAME_PATTERN.test(teamName)) {
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
+function looksLikeCrossTeamToolRecipient(name) {
+  return CROSS_TEAM_TOOL_RECIPIENT_NAMES.has(String(name || '').trim());
+}
+
 function getHomeDir() {
   if (process.env.HOME) return process.env.HOME;
   if (process.env.USERPROFILE) return process.env.USERPROFILE;
@@ -86,23 +125,136 @@ function getPaths(flags, teamName) {
 }
 
 function inferLeadName(paths) {
-  const config = readTeamConfig(paths);
-  if (!config || !Array.isArray(config.members)) {
-    return 'team-lead';
-  }
-  const lead = config.members.find(
-    (member) => member && member.role && String(member.role).toLowerCase().includes('lead')
+  const resolved = resolveTeamMembers(paths);
+  const lead = resolved.members.find(
+    (member) =>
+      member &&
+      ((typeof member.agentType === 'string' && member.agentType === 'team-lead') ||
+        (typeof member.role === 'string' && member.role.toLowerCase().includes('lead')) ||
+        member.name === 'team-lead')
   );
   if (lead) {
     return String(lead.name);
   }
-  return config.members[0] ? String(config.members[0].name) : 'team-lead';
+  const config = resolved.config;
+  if (config && Array.isArray(config.members) && config.members[0]) {
+    return String(config.members[0].name);
+  }
+  return 'team-lead';
 }
 
 function readTeamConfig(paths) {
   return readJson(path.join(paths.teamDir, 'config.json'), null);
 }
 
+function readMembersMeta(paths) {
+  let parsed;
+  try {
+    parsed = readJson(path.join(paths.teamDir, 'members.meta.json'), null);
+  } catch {
+    return [];
+  }
+  if (!parsed || typeof parsed !== 'object' || !Array.isArray(parsed.members)) {
+    return [];
+  }
+  return parsed.members.filter((member) => member && typeof member === 'object');
+}
+
+function listInboxMemberNames(paths) {
+  const inboxDir = path.join(paths.teamDir, 'inboxes');
+  let entries;
+  try {
+    entries = fs.readdirSync(inboxDir, { withFileTypes: true });
+  } catch {
+    return [];
+  }
+
+  return entries
+    .filter((entry) => entry && entry.isFile() && entry.name.endsWith('.json'))
+    .map((entry) => entry.name.slice(0, -5))
+    .map((name) => String(name || '').trim())
+    .filter((name) => name && name !== 'user')
+    .filter((name) => !looksLikeCrossTeamPseudoRecipient(name))
+    .filter((name) => !looksLikeCrossTeamToolRecipient(name));
+}
+
+function normalizeMemberRecord(member) {
+  if (!member || typeof member !== 'object') return null;
+  const name = typeof member.name === 'string' ? member.name.trim() : '';
+  if (!name) return null;
+  return {
+    name,
+    ...(typeof member.role === 'string' && member.role.trim() ? { role: member.role.trim() } : {}),
+    ...(typeof member.workflow === 'string' && member.workflow.trim()
+      ? { workflow: member.workflow.trim() }
+      : {}),
+    ...(typeof member.agentType === 'string' && member.agentType.trim()
+      ? { agentType: member.agentType.trim() }
+      : {}),
+    ...(typeof member.color === 'string' && member.color.trim() ? { color: member.color.trim() } : {}),
+    ...(typeof member.cwd === 'string' && member.cwd.trim() ? { cwd: member.cwd.trim() } : {}),
+    ...(typeof member.removedAt === 'number' ? { removedAt: member.removedAt } : {}),
+  };
+}
+
+function mergeResolvedMember(target, source) {
+  if (!source) return target;
+  return {
+    ...target,
+    ...(source.name ? { name: source.name } : {}),
+    ...(source.role ? { role: source.role } : {}),
+    ...(source.workflow ? { workflow: source.workflow } : {}),
+    ...(source.agentType ? { agentType: source.agentType } : {}),
+    ...(source.color ? { color: source.color } : {}),
+    ...(source.cwd ? { cwd: source.cwd } : {}),
+    ...(source.removedAt != null ? { removedAt: source.removedAt } : {}),
+  };
+}
+
+function resolveTeamMembers(paths) {
+  const config = readTeamConfig(paths) || {};
+  const configMembers = Array.isArray(config.members) ? config.members : [];
+  const metaMembers = readMembersMeta(paths);
+  const inboxNames = listInboxMemberNames(paths);
+  const memberMap = new Map();
+  const removedNames = new Set();
+
+  for (const rawMember of configMembers) {
+    const normalized = normalizeMemberRecord(rawMember);
+    if (!normalized) continue;
+    memberMap.set(normalized.name.toLowerCase(), normalized);
+  }
+
+  for (const rawMember of metaMembers) {
+    const normalized = normalizeMemberRecord(rawMember);
+    if (!normalized) continue;
+    const key = normalized.name.toLowerCase();
+    if (normalized.removedAt != null) {
+      memberMap.delete(key);
+      removedNames.add(key);
+      continue;
+    }
+    removedNames.delete(key);
+    memberMap.set(key, mergeResolvedMember(memberMap.get(key) || { name: normalized.name }, normalized));
+  }
+
+  for (const inboxName of inboxNames) {
+    const normalized = String(inboxName || '').trim();
+    if (!normalized) continue;
+    const key = normalized.toLowerCase();
+    if (!memberMap.has(key) && looksLikeQualifiedExternalRecipient(normalized)) continue;
+    if (removedNames.has(key) || memberMap.has(key)) continue;
+    memberMap.set(key, { name: normalized });
+  }
+
+  return {
+    config,
+    members: Array.from(memberMap.values()).sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name)),
+    removedNames,
+    inboxNames,
+  };
+}
+
 function resolveLeadSessionId(paths) {
   const config = readTeamConfig(paths);
   return config && typeof config.leadSessionId === 'string' && config.leadSessionId.trim()
@@ -302,7 +454,10 @@ module.exports = {
   getPaths,
   inferLeadName,
   isProcessAlive,
+  listInboxMemberNames,
+  readMembersMeta,
   readTeamConfig,
+  resolveTeamMembers,
   resolveLeadSessionId,
   saveTaskAttachmentFile,
 };
diff --git a/agent-teams-controller/src/internal/tasks.js b/agent-teams-controller/src/internal/tasks.js
index 47445b80..29b7021b 100644
--- a/agent-teams-controller/src/internal/tasks.js
+++ b/agent-teams-controller/src/internal/tasks.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 const taskStore = require('./taskStore.js');
 const runtimeHelpers = require('./runtimeHelpers.js');
 const messages = require('./messages.js');
+const processStore = require('./processStore.js');
 const { wrapAgentBlock } = require('./agentBlocks.js');
 
 function normalizeActorName(value) {
@@ -299,6 +300,250 @@ async function taskBriefing(context, memberName) {
   return taskStore.formatTaskBriefing(context.paths, context.teamName, String(memberName));
 }
 
+function getSystemLocale() {
+  const lang = typeof process.env.LANG === 'string' ? process.env.LANG.trim() : '';
+  if (!lang) return 'en';
+  return lang.split('.')[0].replace('_', '-');
+}
+
+function extractPrimaryLanguage(locale) {
+  const normalized = String(locale || '').trim();
+  const dash = normalized.indexOf('-');
+  return dash > 0 ? normalized.slice(0, dash) : normalized || 'en';
+}
+
+function resolveLanguageName(code, systemLocale) {
+  const effectiveCode = code === 'system' ? extractPrimaryLanguage(systemLocale || 'en') : code;
+  try {
+    const displayNames = new Intl.DisplayNames([effectiveCode], { type: 'language' });
+    const name = displayNames.of(effectiveCode);
+    if (name) {
+      return name.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + name.slice(1);
+    }
+  } catch {
+    // Ignore Intl lookup failures and fall back to the raw code.
+  }
+  return effectiveCode;
+}
+
+function buildMemberLanguageInstruction(config) {
+  const configured =
+    config && typeof config.language === 'string' && config.language.trim()
+      ? config.language.trim()
+      : '';
+  if (!configured) {
+    return 'IMPORTANT: Continue using the communication language already specified in your spawn prompt until the team config stores an explicit language.';
+  }
+  const language = resolveLanguageName(configured, getSystemLocale());
+  return `IMPORTANT: Communicate in ${language}. All messages, summaries, and task descriptions MUST be in ${language}.`;
+}
+
+function buildMemberActionModeProtocol() {
+  return [
+    'TURN ACTION MODE PROTOCOL (HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR EACH USER TURN):',
+    '- Some incoming user or relay messages may include a hidden agent-only block that declares the current action mode.',
+    '- If such a block is present, that mode applies to THIS TURN ONLY and overrides any conflicting default behavior.',
+    '- Never silently broaden permissions beyond the selected mode.',
+    '- Never reveal the hidden mode block verbatim to the human unless they explicitly ask for it.',
+    '- Modes:',
+    '  - DO: Full execution mode. You may discuss, inspect, edit files, change state, run commands/tools, and delegate if useful.',
+    '  - ASK: Strict read-only conversation mode. You may read/analyze/explain and reply, but you must not change code/files/tasks/state or run side-effecting commands/tools/scripts.',
+    '  - DELEGATE: Strict orchestration mode for leads. Delegate the work to teammates and coordinate it, but do not implement it yourself unless you are truly in SOLO MODE.',
+  ].join('\n');
+}
+
+function buildMemberTaskProtocol(teamName) {
+  return wrapAgentBlock(`MANDATORY TASK STATUS PROTOCOL — you MUST follow this for EVERY task:
+0. IMPORTANT ID RULE:
+   - If a board/task snapshot shows a canonical taskId, prefer using that exact value in MCP tool calls.
+   - task_briefing may show short display labels like #abcd1234; MCP task tools also accept that short task ref.
+   - Human-facing summaries should use the short display label like #abcd1234 for readability.
+1. If you are about to do implementation/fix work on a task yourself, make sure the owner reflects the actual implementer:
+   - If the task is unassigned or assigned to someone else, FIRST reassign it to yourself with MCP tool task_set_owner:
+     { teamName: "${teamName}", taskId: "<taskId>", owner: "<your-name>" }
+   - Do this only when you are genuinely taking over the work.
+   - Reviewing, approving, or leaving comments does NOT require changing ownership.
+2. Use MCP tool task_start to mark task started:
+   { teamName: "${teamName}", taskId: "<taskId>" }
+   - Start the task ONLY when you are actually beginning work on it.
+   - Do NOT start multiple tasks at once unless the team lead explicitly directs parallel work.
+3. Use MCP tool task_complete BEFORE sending your final reply:
+   { teamName: "${teamName}", taskId: "<taskId>" }
+4. If you are asked to review and the task is accepted, move it to APPROVED (not DONE) with MCP tool review_approve:
+   { teamName: "${teamName}", taskId: "<taskId>", note?: "<optional note>", notifyOwner: true }
+5. If review fails and changes are needed, use MCP tool review_request_changes:
+   { teamName: "${teamName}", taskId: "<taskId>", comment: "<what to fix>" }
+6. NEVER skip status updates. A task is NOT done until completed status is written.
+   - Never "bulk-complete" a batch of tasks at the end. Update status incrementally as you work.
+7. To reply to a comment on a task, use MCP tool task_add_comment:
+   { teamName: "${teamName}", taskId: "<taskId>", text: "<your reply>", from: "<your-name>" }
+8. When discussing a task with a teammate and you have important findings, decisions, blockers, or progress updates — record them as a task comment:
+   { teamName: "${teamName}", taskId: "<taskId>", text: "<summary of your finding or decision>", from: "<your-name>" }
+   Do NOT comment on trivial coordination messages. Only comment when the information is valuable context for the task.
+9. When sending a message about a specific task, include its short display label like #<displayId> in your SendMessage summary field for traceability.
+10. In ALL human-facing or teammate-facing message text, when you mention a task reference, ALWAYS write it with a leading # (for example: #abcd1234, not abcd1234 or "task abcd1234").
+11. Review workflow clarity (IMPORTANT):
+   - The work task (e.g. #1) is the thing that must end up APPROVED after review.
+   - If you are reviewing work for task #X, run review_approve/review_request_changes on #X (the work task).
+   - Do NOT approve a separate "review task" (e.g. #2 created just to ask for a review) — that will put the wrong task into APPROVED.
+   - Typical flow:
+     a) Owner finishes work on #X -> task_complete #X
+     b) Reviewer accepts -> review_approve #X
+12. CLARIFICATION PROTOCOL (CRITICAL — MANDATORY):
+   When you are blocked and need information to continue a task, you MUST do ALL steps below — skipping the board update or comment breaks traceability:
+   a) STEP 1 — FIRST, set the clarification flag with MCP tool task_set_clarification:
+      { teamName: "${teamName}", taskId: "<taskId>", value: "lead" }
+   b) STEP 2 — THEN, add a task comment describing exactly what you need:
+      { teamName: "${teamName}", taskId: "<taskId>", text: "question / blocker / missing info", from: "<your-name>" }
+   c) STEP 3 — THEN, send a message to your team lead via SendMessage so they notice it promptly.
+   IMPORTANT: Always update the task board BEFORE sending the message. The flag + task comment are what make the request durable and visible on the board.
+   d) The flag is auto-cleared when the lead adds a task comment on your task.
+      If the lead replies via SendMessage instead, clear the flag yourself once you have the answer:
+      { teamName: "${teamName}", taskId: "<taskId>", value: "clear" }
+   e) Do NOT set clarification to "user" yourself — only the team lead escalates to the user.
+13. DEPENDENCY AWARENESS:
+    When your task has blockedBy dependencies, check if they are completed before starting.
+    When you complete a task that blocks others, mention this in your completion message so blocked teammates can proceed.
+14. TASK QUEUE DISCIPLINE:
+    - Use task_briefing as a compact queue view of your assigned tasks.
+    - task_briefing may include full description/comments only for in_progress tasks; needsFix/pending/review/completed entries may be minimal on purpose.
+    - Finish existing in_progress tasks first.
+    - If you need more context for an in_progress task, you MAY call task_get, but it is not mandatory when task_briefing already gives enough detail.
+   - Before starting a needsFix or pending task, call task_get for that specific task first.
+   - If you are the one doing the implementation/fixes and the owner is missing or someone else, run task_set_owner to yourself immediately before task_start.
+   - Then run task_start only when you truly begin.
+    - If you complete fixes for a needsFix task, mark it completed and then send it back through review_request when ready for another review pass.
+Failure to follow this protocol means the task board will show incorrect status.`);
+}
+
+function buildMemberProcessProtocol(teamName) {
+  return wrapAgentBlock(`BACKGROUND PROCESS REGISTRATION — when you start a background process (dev server, watcher, database, etc.):
+1. Launch with & to get PID:
+   pnpm dev &
+2. Register immediately with MCP tool process_register (--port and --url are optional, use when the process listens on a port):
+   { teamName: "${teamName}", pid: <PID>, label: "<description>", from: "<your-name>", port?: <PORT>, url?: "http://localhost:<PORT>", command?: "<command>" }
+3. VERIFY registration succeeded (MANDATORY — never skip this step) using MCP tool process_list:
+   { teamName: "${teamName}" }
+4. When stopping a process, use MCP tool process_stop:
+   { teamName: "${teamName}", pid: <PID> }
+If verification in step 3 fails or the process is missing from the list, re-register it.`);
+}
+
+function buildMemberFormattingProtocol() {
+  return wrapAgentBlock(`Hidden internal instructions rule (IMPORTANT):
+- If you send internal operational instructions to another agent/teammate that the human user must NOT see in the UI, wrap ONLY that hidden part in:
+  <info_for_agent>
+  ... hidden instructions only ...
+  </info_for_agent>
+- Keep normal human-readable coordination outside the block.
+- NEVER use agent-only blocks in messages to "user".`);
+}
+
+function normalizeMemberName(value) {
+  return typeof value === 'string' && value.trim() ? value.trim().toLowerCase() : '';
+}
+
+async function memberBriefing(context, memberName) {
+  const requestedMemberName = String(memberName).trim();
+  const requestedMemberKey = normalizeMemberName(requestedMemberName);
+  const resolved = runtimeHelpers.resolveTeamMembers(context.paths);
+  const config = resolved.config || {};
+  if (!requestedMemberName) {
+    throw new Error('Missing member name');
+  }
+  if (resolved.removedNames && resolved.removedNames.has(requestedMemberKey)) {
+    throw new Error(`Member is removed from the team: ${requestedMemberName}`);
+  }
+  const member =
+    resolved.members.find((entry) => normalizeMemberName(entry && entry.name) === requestedMemberKey) ||
+    null;
+  if (!member) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Member not found in team metadata or inboxes: ${requestedMemberName}`
+    );
+  }
+  const leadName = runtimeHelpers.inferLeadName(context.paths);
+  const effectiveMember = member;
+
+  const role =
+    typeof effectiveMember.role === 'string' && effectiveMember.role.trim()
+      ? effectiveMember.role.trim()
+      : typeof effectiveMember.agentType === 'string' && effectiveMember.agentType.trim()
+        ? effectiveMember.agentType.trim()
+        : 'team member';
+  const workflow =
+    typeof effectiveMember.workflow === 'string' && effectiveMember.workflow.trim()
+      ? effectiveMember.workflow.trim()
+      : '';
+  const cwd =
+    typeof effectiveMember.cwd === 'string' && effectiveMember.cwd.trim()
+      ? effectiveMember.cwd.trim()
+      : typeof config.projectPath === 'string' && config.projectPath.trim()
+        ? config.projectPath.trim()
+        : '';
+
+  const activeProcesses = processStore
+    .listProcesses(context.paths)
+    .filter(
+      (entry) =>
+        entry &&
+        entry.alive &&
+        normalizeMemberName(entry.registeredBy) === normalizeMemberName(requestedMemberName)
+    );
+
+  const taskQueue = await taskBriefing(context, requestedMemberName);
+  const lines = [
+    `Member briefing for ${requestedMemberName} on team "${context.teamName}" (${context.teamName}).`,
+    `Role: ${role}.`,
+    `Team lead: ${leadName}.`,
+    buildMemberLanguageInstruction(config),
+    `You must NOT start work, claim tasks, or improvise task/process protocol before reading and following this briefing.`,
+  ];
+
+  if (workflow) {
+    lines.push('', 'Workflow:', workflow);
+  }
+
+  if (cwd) {
+    lines.push('', `Working directory: ${cwd}`);
+  }
+
+  lines.push(
+    '',
+    `Bootstrap flow:`,
+    `1. Use this briefing as your durable rules source.`,
+    `2. Use task_briefing as your compact queue view whenever you need to see assigned work.`,
+    `3. Before starting a pending or needs-fix task, call task_get for that specific task if you need the full context.`,
+    `4. If this briefing was requested during reconnect, resume in_progress work first, then needs-fix tasks, then pending tasks.`,
+    `5. If you cannot obtain the context you need, notify your team lead ("${leadName}") and wait instead of guessing.`
+  );
+
+  lines.push(
+    '',
+    buildMemberActionModeProtocol(),
+    '',
+    buildMemberFormattingProtocol(),
+    '',
+    buildMemberTaskProtocol(context.teamName),
+    '',
+    buildMemberProcessProtocol(context.teamName)
+  );
+
+  if (activeProcesses.length > 0) {
+    lines.push('', 'Active registered processes owned by you:');
+    for (const entry of activeProcesses) {
+      const bits = [`- ${entry.label} (pid ${entry.pid})`];
+      if (entry.port != null) bits.push(`port ${entry.port}`);
+      if (entry.url) bits.push(`url ${entry.url}`);
+      if (entry.command) bits.push(`command ${entry.command}`);
+      lines.push(bits.join(', '));
+    }
+  }
+
+  lines.push('', taskQueue);
+  return lines.join('\n');
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   addTaskAttachmentMeta,
   addTaskComment,
@@ -319,6 +564,7 @@ module.exports = {
   setTaskStatus,
   softDeleteTask,
   startTask,
+  memberBriefing,
   taskBriefing,
   unlinkTask,
   updateTask: (context, taskRef, updater) =>
diff --git a/agent-teams-controller/test/controller.test.js b/agent-teams-controller/test/controller.test.js
index 3d2c1d1b..30219aea 100644
--- a/agent-teams-controller/test/controller.test.js
+++ b/agent-teams-controller/test/controller.test.js
@@ -123,6 +123,130 @@ describe('agent-teams-controller API', () => {
     expect(typeof stopped.stoppedAt).toBe('string');
   });
 
+  it('builds member briefing from team config language and known member metadata', async () => {
+    const claudeDir = makeClaudeDir();
+    const configPath = path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', 'my-team', 'config.json');
+    const config = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf8'));
+    config.language = 'en';
+    config.projectPath = '/tmp/project-x';
+    config.members = [
+      { name: 'alice', role: 'team-lead' },
+      { name: 'bob', role: 'developer', workflow: 'Implement carefully', cwd: '/tmp/project-x' },
+    ];
+    fs.writeFileSync(configPath, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2));
+
+    const controller = createController({ teamName: 'my-team', claudeDir });
+    controller.tasks.createTask({ subject: 'Queued task', owner: 'bob' });
+    const briefing = await controller.tasks.memberBriefing('bob');
+
+    expect(briefing).toContain('Member briefing for bob on team "my-team" (my-team).');
+    expect(briefing).toContain('IMPORTANT: Communicate in English.');
+    expect(briefing).toContain('TURN ACTION MODE PROTOCOL (HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR EACH USER TURN):');
+    expect(briefing).toContain('Workflow:');
+    expect(briefing).toContain('Implement carefully');
+    expect(briefing).toContain('Working directory: /tmp/project-x');
+    expect(briefing).toContain('Task briefing for bob:');
+  });
+
+  it('resolves member briefing from members.meta.json when config members are missing', async () => {
+    const claudeDir = makeClaudeDir();
+    const configPath = path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', 'my-team', 'config.json');
+    const config = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf8'));
+    config.language = 'en';
+    delete config.members;
+    fs.writeFileSync(configPath, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2));
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', 'my-team', 'members.meta.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        {
+          version: 1,
+          members: [{ name: 'bob', role: 'developer', workflow: 'Meta workflow' }],
+        },
+        null,
+        2
+      )
+    );
+
+    const controller = createController({ teamName: 'my-team', claudeDir });
+    const briefing = await controller.tasks.memberBriefing('bob');
+
+    expect(briefing).toContain('Role: developer.');
+    expect(briefing).toContain('Meta workflow');
+  });
+
+  it('resolves member briefing from inbox presence when member metadata is not persisted yet', async () => {
+    const claudeDir = makeClaudeDir();
+    const configPath = path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', 'my-team', 'config.json');
+    const config = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf8'));
+    delete config.members;
+    fs.writeFileSync(configPath, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2));
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', 'my-team', 'inboxes'), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', 'my-team', 'inboxes', 'carol.json'), '[]');
+
+    const controller = createController({ teamName: 'my-team', claudeDir });
+    const fromInboxBriefing = await controller.tasks.memberBriefing('carol');
+
+    expect(fromInboxBriefing).toContain('Member briefing for carol on team "my-team" (my-team).');
+    expect(fromInboxBriefing).toContain('Role: team member.');
+  });
+
+  it('rejects member briefing when member is unknown to config, members.meta, and inboxes', async () => {
+    const claudeDir = makeClaudeDir();
+    const configPath = path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', 'my-team', 'config.json');
+    const config = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf8'));
+    delete config.members;
+    fs.writeFileSync(configPath, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2));
+
+    const controller = createController({ teamName: 'my-team', claudeDir });
+    await expect(controller.tasks.memberBriefing('dave')).rejects.toThrow(
+      'Member not found in team metadata or inboxes: dave'
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('ignores pseudo-recipient inbox files when resolving members', async () => {
+    const claudeDir = makeClaudeDir();
+    const configPath = path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', 'my-team', 'config.json');
+    const config = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf8'));
+    delete config.members;
+    fs.writeFileSync(configPath, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2));
+    const inboxDir = path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', 'my-team', 'inboxes');
+    fs.mkdirSync(inboxDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(inboxDir, 'cross-team:other-team.json'), '[]');
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(inboxDir, 'other-team.alice.json'), '[]');
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(inboxDir, 'cross_team_send.json'), '[]');
+
+    const controller = createController({ teamName: 'my-team', claudeDir });
+    await expect(controller.tasks.memberBriefing('cross-team:other-team')).rejects.toThrow(
+      'Member not found in team metadata or inboxes: cross-team:other-team'
+    );
+    await expect(controller.tasks.memberBriefing('other-team.alice')).rejects.toThrow(
+      'Member not found in team metadata or inboxes: other-team.alice'
+    );
+    await expect(controller.tasks.memberBriefing('cross_team_send')).rejects.toThrow(
+      'Member not found in team metadata or inboxes: cross_team_send'
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('rejects member briefing for explicitly removed members', async () => {
+    const claudeDir = makeClaudeDir();
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', 'my-team', 'members.meta.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        {
+          version: 1,
+          members: [{ name: 'carol', role: 'developer', removedAt: Date.now() }],
+        },
+        null,
+        2
+      )
+    );
+
+    const controller = createController({ teamName: 'my-team', claudeDir });
+    await expect(controller.tasks.memberBriefing('carol')).rejects.toThrow(
+      'Member is removed from the team: carol'
+    );
+  });
+
   it('creates a fresh registry entry when an old pid was recycled without stoppedAt', () => {
     const claudeDir = makeClaudeDir();
     const controller = createController({ teamName: 'my-team', claudeDir });
diff --git a/mcp-server/src/agent-teams-controller.d.ts b/mcp-server/src/agent-teams-controller.d.ts
index bccd8f76..f87f31c0 100644
--- a/mcp-server/src/agent-teams-controller.d.ts
+++ b/mcp-server/src/agent-teams-controller.d.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ declare module 'agent-teams-controller' {
     setNeedsClarification(taskId: string, value: string | null): unknown;
     linkTask(taskId: string, targetId: string, linkType: string): unknown;
     unlinkTask(taskId: string, targetId: string, linkType: string): unknown;
+    memberBriefing(memberName: string): Promise<string>;
     taskBriefing(memberName: string): Promise<string>;
   }
 
diff --git a/mcp-server/src/tools/taskTools.ts b/mcp-server/src/tools/taskTools.ts
index 7d719197..fc61924d 100644
--- a/mcp-server/src/tools/taskTools.ts
+++ b/mcp-server/src/tools/taskTools.ts
@@ -278,6 +278,23 @@ export function registerTaskTools(server: Pick<FastMCP, 'addTool'>) {
       ),
   });
 
+  server.addTool({
+    name: 'member_briefing',
+    description: 'Get bootstrap briefing for a team member',
+    parameters: z.object({
+      ...toolContextSchema,
+      memberName: z.string().min(1),
+    }),
+    execute: async ({ teamName, claudeDir, memberName }) => ({
+      content: [
+        {
+          type: 'text' as const,
+          text: await getController(teamName, claudeDir).tasks.memberBriefing(memberName),
+        },
+      ],
+    }),
+  });
+
   server.addTool({
     name: 'task_briefing',
     description: 'Get formatted task briefing for a member',
diff --git a/mcp-server/test/tools.test.ts b/mcp-server/test/tools.test.ts
index 52100099..ae497016 100644
--- a/mcp-server/test/tools.test.ts
+++ b/mcp-server/test/tools.test.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ describe('agent-teams-mcp tools', () => {
     'kanban_list_reviewers',
     'kanban_remove_reviewer',
     'kanban_set_column',
+    'member_briefing',
     'message_send',
     'process_list',
     'process_register',
@@ -76,6 +77,33 @@ describe('agent-teams-mcp tools', () => {
     return fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'agent-teams-mcp-'));
   }
 
+  function writeTeamConfig(
+    claudeDir: string,
+    teamName: string,
+    config: {
+      name?: string;
+      language?: string;
+      projectPath?: string;
+      members: Array<Record<string, unknown>>;
+    }
+  ) {
+    const teamDir = path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', teamName);
+    fs.mkdirSync(teamDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(teamDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        {
+          name: config.name ?? teamName,
+          ...(config.language ? { language: config.language } : {}),
+          ...(config.projectPath ? { projectPath: config.projectPath } : {}),
+          members: config.members,
+        },
+        null,
+        2
+      )
+    );
+  }
+
   async function startControlServer(
     handler: (request: {
       method?: string;
@@ -269,6 +297,13 @@ describe('agent-teams-mcp tools', () => {
   it('covers task lifecycle, attachments, relationships, kanban, and review flows', async () => {
     const claudeDir = makeClaudeDir();
     const teamName = 'alpha';
+    writeTeamConfig(claudeDir, teamName, {
+      language: 'en',
+      members: [
+        { name: 'lead', role: 'team-lead' },
+        { name: 'alice', role: 'developer' },
+      ],
+    });
     const attachmentPath = path.join(claudeDir, 'note.txt');
     fs.writeFileSync(attachmentPath, 'ship it');
 
@@ -476,11 +511,30 @@ describe('agent-teams-mcp tools', () => {
     expect((briefing as { content: Array<{ text: string }> }).content[0]?.text).toContain(
       'Review MCP adapter'
     );
+
+    const memberBriefing = await getTool('member_briefing').execute({
+      claudeDir,
+      teamName,
+      memberName: 'alice',
+    });
+    const memberBriefingText = (memberBriefing as { content: Array<{ text: string }> }).content[0]
+      ?.text;
+    expect(memberBriefingText).toContain('Member briefing for alice on team "alpha" (alpha).');
+    expect(memberBriefingText).toContain('Use task_briefing as your compact queue view');
+    expect(memberBriefingText).toContain('Review MCP adapter');
   });
 
   it('keeps owner-backed MCP tasks pending by default, supports explicit startImmediately, sends owner notifications, and returns compact task_briefing output', async () => {
     const claudeDir = makeClaudeDir();
     const teamName = 'gamma';
+    writeTeamConfig(claudeDir, teamName, {
+      language: 'en',
+      projectPath: '/tmp/gamma-project',
+      members: [
+        { name: 'lead', role: 'team-lead' },
+        { name: 'alice', role: 'developer', workflow: 'Stay focused' },
+      ],
+    });
 
     const queuedTask = parseJsonToolResult(
       await getTool('task_create').execute({
@@ -578,6 +632,59 @@ describe('agent-teams-mcp tools', () => {
     expect(briefingText).toContain('Completed:');
     expect(briefingText).toContain(`#${completedTask.displayId}`);
     expect(briefingText).not.toContain('Completed description should also stay compact');
+
+    const memberBriefing = (await getTool('member_briefing').execute({
+      claudeDir,
+      teamName,
+      memberName: 'alice',
+    })) as { content: Array<{ text: string }> };
+    const memberBriefingText = memberBriefing.content[0]?.text ?? '';
+    expect(memberBriefingText).toContain(
+      'You must NOT start work, claim tasks, or improvise task/process protocol'
+    );
+    expect(memberBriefingText).toContain('IMPORTANT: Communicate in English.');
+    expect(memberBriefingText).toContain('TURN ACTION MODE PROTOCOL (HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR EACH USER TURN):');
+    expect(memberBriefingText).toContain('Task briefing for alice:');
+    expect(memberBriefingText).toContain(`#${activeTask.displayId}`);
+
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', teamName, 'inboxes'), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', teamName, 'inboxes', 'carol.json'), '[]');
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', teamName, 'inboxes', 'cross_team_send.json'), '[]');
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(claudeDir, 'teams', teamName, 'inboxes', 'other-team.alice.json'), '[]');
+
+    const inboxResolvedBriefing = (await getTool('member_briefing').execute({
+      claudeDir,
+      teamName,
+      memberName: 'carol',
+    })) as { content: Array<{ text: string }> };
+    const inboxResolvedBriefingText = inboxResolvedBriefing.content[0]?.text ?? '';
+    expect(inboxResolvedBriefingText).toContain('Member briefing for carol on team "gamma" (gamma).');
+    expect(inboxResolvedBriefingText).toContain('Role: team member.');
+
+    await expect(
+      getTool('member_briefing').execute({
+        claudeDir,
+        teamName,
+        memberName: 'dave',
+      })
+    ).rejects.toThrow('Member not found in team metadata or inboxes: dave');
+    await expect(
+      getTool('member_briefing').execute({
+        claudeDir,
+        teamName,
+        memberName: 'cross_team_send',
+      })
+    ).rejects.toThrow('Member not found in team metadata or inboxes: cross_team_send');
+    await expect(
+      getTool('member_briefing').execute({
+        claudeDir,
+        teamName,
+        memberName: 'other-team.alice',
+      })
+    ).rejects.toThrow('Member not found in team metadata or inboxes: other-team.alice');
+    expect(inboxResolvedBriefingText).not.toContain(
+      'Warning: Member metadata was not found in config.json, members.meta.json, or inbox files yet.'
+    );
   });
 
   it('covers review_request_changes and full process lifecycle tools', async () => {
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/teams.ts b/src/main/ipc/teams.ts
index 9fe99e27..ab113ac9 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/teams.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/teams.ts
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ import {
 } from '../services/team/actionModeInstructions';
 import { gitIdentityResolver } from '../services/parsing/GitIdentityResolver';
 import { TeamAttachmentStore } from '../services/team/TeamAttachmentStore';
+import { buildAddMemberSpawnMessage } from '../services/team/TeamProvisioningService';
 import { TeamTaskAttachmentStore } from '../services/team/TeamTaskAttachmentStore';
 
 import {
@@ -1950,14 +1951,24 @@ async function handleAddMember(
     // If team is alive, notify the lead to spawn the new teammate
     const provisioning = getTeamProvisioningService();
     if (provisioning.isTeamAlive(tn)) {
-      const roleHint = typeof role === 'string' && role.trim() ? ` with role "${role.trim()}"` : '';
-      const workflowHint =
-        typeof workflow === 'string' && workflow.trim()
-          ? ` Their workflow: ${workflow.trim()}`
-          : '';
-      const spawnMessage =
-        `A new teammate "${memberName}"${roleHint} has been added to the team. ` +
-        `Please spawn them immediately using the Task tool with team_name="${tn}" and name="${memberName}".${workflowHint}`;
+      const teamDataService = getTeamDataService();
+      let leadName = 'team-lead';
+      let displayName = tn;
+      try {
+        const [resolvedLeadName, resolvedDisplayName] = await Promise.all([
+          teamDataService.getLeadMemberName(tn),
+          teamDataService.getTeamDisplayName(tn),
+        ]);
+        leadName = resolvedLeadName || 'team-lead';
+        displayName = resolvedDisplayName || tn;
+      } catch {
+        // Best-effort: fall back to default lead and team names
+      }
+      const spawnMessage = buildAddMemberSpawnMessage(tn, displayName, leadName, {
+        name: memberName,
+        ...(typeof role === 'string' ? { role } : {}),
+        ...(typeof workflow === 'string' ? { workflow } : {}),
+      });
       try {
         await provisioning.sendMessageToTeam(tn, spawnMessage);
       } catch {
diff --git a/src/main/services/team/TeamDataService.ts b/src/main/services/team/TeamDataService.ts
index 7ffd317a..7a859b2a 100644
--- a/src/main/services/team/TeamDataService.ts
+++ b/src/main/services/team/TeamDataService.ts
@@ -1151,6 +1151,16 @@ export class TeamDataService {
     }
   }
 
+  async getTeamDisplayName(teamName: string): Promise<string> {
+    try {
+      const config = await this.configReader.getConfig(teamName);
+      const displayName = config?.name?.trim();
+      return displayName || teamName;
+    } catch {
+      return teamName;
+    }
+  }
+
   async requestReview(teamName: string, taskId: string): Promise<void> {
     const { leadSessionId } = await this.resolveLeadRuntimeContext(teamName);
     this.getController(teamName).review.requestReview(taskId, {
diff --git a/src/main/services/team/TeamProvisioningService.ts b/src/main/services/team/TeamProvisioningService.ts
index 2833963e..5b16cbc3 100644
--- a/src/main/services/team/TeamProvisioningService.ts
+++ b/src/main/services/team/TeamProvisioningService.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,12 @@ import type {
   ToolCallMeta,
 } from '@shared/types';
 
+export const MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV = 'CLAUDE_TEAM_ENABLE_MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP';
+
+export function isMemberBriefingBootstrapEnabled(): boolean {
+  return process.env[MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV] === '1';
+}
+
 const logger = createLogger('Service:TeamProvisioning');
 const { createController } = agentTeamsControllerModule;
 const TEAM_NAME_PATTERN = /^[a-z0-9][a-z0-9-]{0,127}$/;
@@ -387,7 +393,7 @@ function buildTeammateAgentBlockReminder(): string {
   ].join('\n');
 }
 
-function buildMemberSpawnPrompt(
+function buildLegacyMemberSpawnPrompt(
   member: TeamCreateRequest['members'][number],
   displayName: string,
   teamName: string,
@@ -414,6 +420,172 @@ ${taskProtocol}
 ${processRegistration}`;
 }
 
+function buildMemberBootstrapPrompt(
+  member: TeamCreateRequest['members'][number],
+  displayName: string,
+  teamName: string,
+  leadName: string
+): string {
+  const role = member.role?.trim() || 'team member';
+  const workflowBlock = member.workflow?.trim()
+    ? `\n\nYour workflow and how you should behave:${formatWorkflowBlock(member.workflow, '')}`
+    : '';
+  const actionModeProtocol = buildActionModeProtocol();
+  return `You are ${member.name}, a ${role} on team "${displayName}" (${teamName}).${workflowBlock}
+
+${getAgentLanguageInstruction()}
+Your FIRST action: call MCP tool member_briefing with:
+{ teamName: "${teamName}", memberName: "${member.name}" }
+Do NOT start work, claim tasks, or improvise workflow/task/process rules before member_briefing succeeds.
+If member_briefing fails, send a short message to your team lead "${leadName}" explaining that bootstrap failed, then wait.
+After member_briefing succeeds:
+- Introduce yourself briefly (name and role) and confirm you are ready.
+- Then wait for task assignments.
+- When you later receive work or reconnect after a restart, use task_briefing as your compact queue view. Use task_get when you need the full task context before starting a pending/needsFix task or when the in_progress briefing details are not enough.
+${buildTeammateAgentBlockReminder()}
+${actionModeProtocol}`;
+}
+
+function buildLegacyReconnectMemberSpawnPrompt(
+  member: TeamCreateRequest['members'][number],
+  teamName: string,
+  hasTasks: boolean
+): string {
+  const role = member.role?.trim() || 'team member';
+  const workflowBlock = member.workflow?.trim()
+    ? `\n\nYour workflow and how you should behave:${formatWorkflowBlock(member.workflow, '     ')}`
+    : '';
+  const actionModeProtocol = indentMultiline(buildActionModeProtocol(), '     ');
+  return `   For "${member.name}":
+   - prompt:
+     You are ${member.name}, a ${role} on team "${teamName}".${workflowBlock}
+
+     ${getAgentLanguageInstruction()}
+     The team has been reconnected after a restart.
+     ${hasTasks ? `You may have assigned tasks in states like in_progress, needsFix, pending, review, completed, or approved from the previous session.` : 'You have no assigned tasks currently.'}
+     ${buildTeammateAgentBlockReminder()}
+${actionModeProtocol}
+
+     Your FIRST action: call MCP tool task_briefing with:
+     { teamName: "${teamName}", memberName: "${member.name}" }
+     Then:
+     - If task_briefing shows any in_progress task, resume/finish those first. Call task_get only if you need more context than task_briefing already gave you.
+     - After that, prioritize tasks marked Needs fixes after review, then normal pending tasks.
+     - Before you start any needsFix or pending task, call task_get for that specific task.
+     - If you are the one about to do the implementation/fixes and the owner is missing or someone else, run task_set_owner to yourself immediately before task_start.
+     - Only then run task_start when you truly begin.
+     - If you have no tasks, wait for new assignments.`;
+}
+
+function buildReconnectMemberBootstrapPrompt(
+  member: TeamCreateRequest['members'][number],
+  teamName: string,
+  leadName: string,
+  hasTasks: boolean
+): string {
+  const role = member.role?.trim() || 'team member';
+  const workflowBlock = member.workflow?.trim()
+    ? `\n\nYour workflow and how you should behave:${formatWorkflowBlock(member.workflow, '     ')}`
+    : '';
+  const actionModeProtocol = indentMultiline(buildActionModeProtocol(), '     ');
+  return `   For "${member.name}":
+   - prompt:
+     You are ${member.name}, a ${role} on team "${teamName}" (${teamName}).${workflowBlock}
+
+     ${getAgentLanguageInstruction()}
+     The team has been reconnected after a restart.
+     ${
+       hasTasks
+         ? 'You may have assigned tasks in states like in_progress, needsFix, pending, review, completed, or approved from the previous session.'
+         : 'You have no assigned tasks currently.'
+     }
+     Your FIRST action: call MCP tool member_briefing with:
+     { teamName: "${teamName}", memberName: "${member.name}" }
+     Do NOT start work, claim tasks, or improvise workflow/task/process rules before member_briefing succeeds.
+     If member_briefing fails, send a short message to your team lead "${leadName}" explaining that bootstrap failed, then wait.
+     ${buildTeammateAgentBlockReminder()}
+${actionModeProtocol}
+
+     After member_briefing succeeds:
+     - Use task_briefing as your compact queue view.
+     - If task_briefing shows any in_progress task, resume/finish those first. Call task_get only if you need more context than task_briefing already gave you.
+     - After that, prioritize tasks marked Needs fixes after review, then normal pending tasks.
+     - Before you start any needsFix or pending task, call task_get for that specific task.
+     - If you are the one about to do the implementation/fixes and the owner is missing or someone else, run task_set_owner to yourself immediately before task_start.
+     - Only then run task_start when you truly begin.
+     - If you have no tasks, wait for new assignments.`;
+}
+
+function buildMemberSpawnPrompt(
+  member: TeamCreateRequest['members'][number],
+  displayName: string,
+  teamName: string,
+  leadName: string,
+  taskProtocol: string,
+  processRegistration: string
+): string {
+  return isMemberBriefingBootstrapEnabled()
+    ? buildMemberBootstrapPrompt(member, displayName, teamName, leadName)
+    : buildLegacyMemberSpawnPrompt(
+        member,
+        displayName,
+        teamName,
+        taskProtocol,
+        processRegistration
+      );
+}
+
+function buildReconnectMemberSpawnPrompt(
+  member: TeamCreateRequest['members'][number],
+  teamName: string,
+  leadName: string,
+  hasTasks: boolean
+): string {
+  return isMemberBriefingBootstrapEnabled()
+    ? buildReconnectMemberBootstrapPrompt(member, teamName, leadName, hasTasks)
+    : buildLegacyReconnectMemberSpawnPrompt(member, teamName, hasTasks);
+}
+
+export function buildAddMemberSpawnMessage(
+  teamName: string,
+  displayName: string,
+  leadName: string,
+  member: Pick<TeamCreateRequest['members'][number], 'name' | 'role' | 'workflow'>
+): string {
+  const roleHint =
+    typeof member.role === 'string' && member.role.trim()
+      ? ` with role "${member.role.trim()}"`
+      : '';
+  const workflowHint =
+    typeof member.workflow === 'string' && member.workflow.trim()
+      ? ` Their workflow: ${member.workflow.trim()}`
+      : '';
+
+  if (!isMemberBriefingBootstrapEnabled()) {
+    return (
+      `A new teammate "${member.name}"${roleHint} has been added to the team. ` +
+      `Please spawn them immediately using the Task tool with team_name="${teamName}" and name="${member.name}".${workflowHint}`
+    );
+  }
+
+  const prompt = buildMemberBootstrapPrompt(
+    {
+      name: member.name,
+      ...(member.role ? { role: member.role } : {}),
+      ...(member.workflow ? { workflow: member.workflow } : {}),
+    },
+    displayName,
+    teamName,
+    leadName
+  );
+
+  return (
+    `A new teammate "${member.name}"${roleHint} has been added to the team. ` +
+    `Please spawn them immediately using the Task tool with team_name="${teamName}", name="${member.name}", subagent_type="general-purpose", and the exact prompt below:${workflowHint}\n\n` +
+    indentMultiline(prompt, '  ')
+  );
+}
+
 function buildTaskStatusProtocol(teamName: string): string {
   return wrapInAgentBlock(`MANDATORY TASK STATUS PROTOCOL — you MUST follow this for EVERY task:
 0. IMPORTANT ID RULE:
@@ -444,14 +616,15 @@ function buildTaskStatusProtocol(teamName: string): string {
    Do NOT comment on trivial coordination messages. Only comment when the information is valuable context for the task.
 9. When sending a message about a specific task, include its short display label like #<displayId> in your SendMessage summary field for traceability.
 10. In ALL human-facing or teammate-facing message text, when you mention a task reference, ALWAYS write it with a leading # (for example: #abcd1234, not abcd1234 or "task abcd1234").
-11. Review workflow clarity (IMPORTANT):
+11. In ALL human-facing or teammate-facing message text, when you mention a teammate, ALWAYS write their name with a leading @ (for example: @alice, not alice). When you mention another team, also use @ (for example: @signal-ops, not signal-ops).
+12. Review workflow clarity (IMPORTANT):
    - The work task (e.g. #1) is the thing that must end up APPROVED after review.
    - If you are reviewing work for task #X, run review_approve/review_request_changes on #X (the work task).
    - Do NOT approve a separate "review task" (e.g. #2 created just to ask for a review) — that will put the wrong task into APPROVED.
    - Typical flow:
      a) Owner finishes work on #X -> task_complete #X
      b) Reviewer accepts -> review_approve #X
-12. CLARIFICATION PROTOCOL (CRITICAL — MANDATORY):
+13. CLARIFICATION PROTOCOL (CRITICAL — MANDATORY):
    When you are blocked and need information to continue a task, you MUST do ALL steps below — skipping the board update or comment breaks traceability:
    a) STEP 1 — FIRST, set the clarification flag with MCP tool task_set_clarification:
       { teamName: "${teamName}", taskId: "<taskId>", value: "lead" }
@@ -463,10 +636,10 @@ function buildTaskStatusProtocol(teamName: string): string {
       If the lead replies via SendMessage instead, clear the flag yourself once you have the answer:
       { teamName: "${teamName}", taskId: "<taskId>", value: "clear" }
    e) Do NOT set clarification to "user" yourself — only the team lead escalates to the user.
-13. DEPENDENCY AWARENESS:
+14. DEPENDENCY AWARENESS:
     When your task has blockedBy dependencies, check if they are completed before starting.
     When you complete a task that blocks others, mention this in your completion message so blocked teammates can proceed.
-14. TASK QUEUE DISCIPLINE:
+15. TASK QUEUE DISCIPLINE:
     - Use task_briefing as a compact queue view of your assigned tasks.
     - task_briefing may include full description/comments only for in_progress tasks; needsFix/pending/review/completed entries may be minimal on purpose.
     - Finish existing in_progress tasks first.
@@ -803,17 +976,20 @@ function buildProvisioningPrompt(request: TeamCreateRequest): string {
     ? '2) Skip — this is a solo team with no teammates to spawn.'
     : `2) Spawn each member as a live teammate using the Task tool. For each member below, use the exact prompt shown:
 
-// NOTE: taskProtocol & processRegistration are deliberately inlined into EACH member's spawn prompt
-// below, even though the text is identical across members. This duplicates ~4K chars per member
-// in the lead's context, but ensures the lead passes the EXACT protocol verbatim via Task tool.
-// Extracting them once and telling the lead to “insert the protocol block” risks hallucination
-// or omission — the lead may rephrase rules, skip items, or forget to include them.
-// Cost: ~1K tokens per extra member. At 200K context window this is negligible.
+// IMPORTANT: Use the exact prompt shown for each member.
+// With member_briefing bootstrap enabled, the teammate will fetch durable task/process rules after spawn.
 ${request.members
   .map(
     (m) => `   For “${m.name}”:
    - prompt:
-${buildMemberSpawnPrompt(m, displayName, request.teamName, taskProtocol, processRegistration)
+${buildMemberSpawnPrompt(
+  m,
+  displayName,
+  request.teamName,
+  leadName,
+  taskProtocol,
+  processRegistration
+)
   .split('\n')
   .map((line) => `     ${line}`)
   .join('\n')}`
@@ -860,9 +1036,7 @@ function buildLaunchPrompt(
   const userPromptBlock = request.prompt?.trim()
     ? `\nAdditional instructions from the user:\n${request.prompt.trim()}\n`
     : '';
-  const taskProtocol = buildTaskStatusProtocol(request.teamName);
-  const processRegistration = buildProcessRegistrationProtocol(request.teamName);
-  const languageInstruction = getAgentLanguageInstruction();
+  const bootstrapEnabled = isMemberBriefingBootstrapEnabled();
   const taskBoardSnapshot = buildTaskBoardSnapshot(tasks);
 
   const leadName = members.find((m) => m.role?.toLowerCase().includes('lead'))?.name || 'team-lead';
@@ -899,35 +1073,12 @@ function buildLaunchPrompt(
       if (snapshot) memberTaskBlocks.set(m.name, snapshot);
     }
 
-    // Build the teammate spawn prompt template with member-specific task injection
+    // Build the teammate spawn prompt template with member-specific task presence
     const memberSpawnInstructions = members
       .map((m) => {
         const taskBlock = memberTaskBlocks.get(m.name) || '';
         const hasTasks = Boolean(taskBlock);
-        const workflowBlock = m.workflow?.trim()
-          ? `\n\nYour workflow and how you should behave:${formatWorkflowBlock(m.workflow, '     ')}`
-          : '';
-        const actionModeProtocol = indentMultiline(buildActionModeProtocol(), '     ');
-
-        return `   For "${m.name}":
-   - prompt:
-     You are ${m.name}, a ${m.role || 'team member'} on team "${request.teamName}".${workflowBlock}
-
-     ${languageInstruction}
-     The team has been reconnected after a restart.
-     ${hasTasks ? `You may have assigned tasks in states like in_progress, needsFix, pending, review, completed, or approved from the previous session.` : 'You have no assigned tasks currently.'}
-     ${buildTeammateAgentBlockReminder()}
-${actionModeProtocol}
-
-     Your FIRST action: call MCP tool task_briefing with:
-     { teamName: "${request.teamName}", memberName: "${m.name}" }
-     Then:
-     - If task_briefing shows any in_progress task, resume/finish those first. Call task_get only if you need more context than task_briefing already gave you.
-     - After that, prioritize tasks marked Needs fixes after review, then normal pending tasks.
-     - Before you start any needsFix or pending task, call task_get for that specific task.
-     - If you are the one about to do the implementation/fixes and the owner is missing or someone else, run task_set_owner to yourself immediately before task_start.
-     - Only then run task_start when you truly begin.
-     - If you have no tasks, wait for new assignments.`;
+        return buildReconnectMemberSpawnPrompt(m, request.teamName, leadName, hasTasks);
       })
       .join('\n\n');
 
@@ -935,12 +1086,12 @@ ${actionModeProtocol}
    - team_name: "${request.teamName}"
    - name: the member's name
    - subagent_type: "general-purpose"
-   - IMPORTANT: Include each member's pending tasks in their spawn prompt so they resume work immediately.
-     Include the following agent-only instructions verbatim in each teammate's prompt:
-
-${taskProtocol}
-
-${processRegistration}
+   - IMPORTANT: Use the exact prompt shown for each member.
+     ${
+       bootstrapEnabled
+         ? 'With member_briefing bootstrap enabled, the teammate will fetch durable rules after spawn.'
+         : 'This prompt includes the full durable teammate rules directly.'
+     }
 
    Per-member spawn instructions:
 ${memberSpawnInstructions}
diff --git a/src/renderer/utils/memberHelpers.ts b/src/renderer/utils/memberHelpers.ts
index 2aa57fc3..90e1320e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/utils/memberHelpers.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/utils/memberHelpers.ts
@@ -193,13 +193,11 @@ export function buildMemberColorMap(members: MemberColorInput[]): Map<string, st
     usedColors.add(color);
   }
 
-  for (let i = 0; i < removed.length; i++) {
-    map.set(
-      removed[i].name,
-      removed[i].color
-        ? normalizeMemberColorName(removed[i].color)
-        : getMemberColorByName(removed[i].name)
-    );
+  for (const member of removed) {
+    const color = member.color
+      ? normalizeMemberColorName(member.color)
+      : getMemberColorByName(member.name);
+    map.set(member.name, color);
   }
 
   map.set('user', 'user');
diff --git a/test/main/http/teams.test.ts b/test/main/http/teams.test.ts
index eb7771f2..45aaeb70 100644
--- a/test/main/http/teams.test.ts
+++ b/test/main/http/teams.test.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,16 @@ describe('HTTP team runtime routes', () => {
     const getProvisioningStatus = vi.fn<(runId: string) => Promise<TeamProvisioningProgress>>();
     const stopTeam = vi.fn<(teamName: string) => void>();
     const getAliveTeams = vi.fn<() => string[]>();
+    const teamProvisioningService = {
+      launchTeam,
+      getRuntimeState,
+      getProvisioningStatus,
+      stopTeam,
+      getAliveTeams,
+    } as Pick<
+      NonNullable<HttpServices['teamProvisioningService']>,
+      'launchTeam' | 'getRuntimeState' | 'getProvisioningStatus' | 'stopTeam' | 'getAliveTeams'
+    > as HttpServices['teamProvisioningService'];
 
     const services = {
       projectScanner: {} as HttpServices['projectScanner'],
@@ -28,13 +38,7 @@ describe('HTTP team runtime routes', () => {
       dataCache: {} as HttpServices['dataCache'],
       updaterService: {} as HttpServices['updaterService'],
       sshConnectionManager: {} as HttpServices['sshConnectionManager'],
-      teamProvisioningService: {
-        launchTeam,
-        getRuntimeState,
-        getProvisioningStatus,
-        stopTeam,
-        getAliveTeams,
-      },
+      teamProvisioningService,
     } satisfies HttpServices;
 
     return {
diff --git a/test/main/ipc/teams.test.ts b/test/main/ipc/teams.test.ts
index f79cd66d..4a4ee3d8 100644
--- a/test/main/ipc/teams.test.ts
+++ b/test/main/ipc/teams.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import * as os from 'os';
-import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import type { InboxMessage, TeamCreateRequest, TeamProvisioningProgress } from '@shared/types/team';
 
 vi.mock('electron', () => ({
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ import {
   registerTeamHandlers,
   removeTeamHandlers,
 } from '../../../src/main/ipc/teams';
+import { MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV } from '../../../src/main/services/team/TeamProvisioningService';
 
 describe('ipc teams handlers', () => {
   const handlers = new Map<string, (...args: unknown[]) => Promise<unknown>>();
@@ -93,6 +94,7 @@ describe('ipc teams handlers', () => {
       handlers.delete(channel);
     }),
   };
+  let originalMemberBriefingBootstrapEnv: string | undefined;
 
   const service = {
     listTeams: vi.fn(async () => [{ teamName: 'my-team', displayName: 'My Team' }]),
@@ -108,6 +110,7 @@ describe('ipc teams handlers', () => {
     reconcileTeamArtifacts: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
     deleteTeam: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
     getLeadMemberName: vi.fn(async () => 'team-lead'),
+    getTeamDisplayName: vi.fn(async () => 'My Team'),
     sendMessage: vi.fn(async () => ({ deliveredToInbox: true, messageId: 'm1' })),
     sendDirectToLead: vi.fn(async () => ({ deliveredToInbox: false, messageId: 'direct-1' })),
     createTask: vi.fn(async () => ({ id: '1', subject: 'Test', status: 'pending' })),
@@ -167,10 +170,20 @@ describe('ipc teams handlers', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     handlers.clear();
     vi.clearAllMocks();
+    originalMemberBriefingBootstrapEnv = process.env[MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV];
+    process.env[MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV] = '1';
     initializeTeamHandlers(service as never, provisioningService as never);
     registerTeamHandlers(ipcMain as never);
   });
 
+  afterEach(() => {
+    if (originalMemberBriefingBootstrapEnv === undefined) {
+      delete process.env[MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV];
+    } else {
+      process.env[MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV] = originalMemberBriefingBootstrapEnv;
+    }
+  });
+
   it('registers all expected handlers', () => {
     expect(handlers.has(TEAM_LIST)).toBe(true);
     expect(handlers.has(TEAM_GET_DATA)).toBe(true);
@@ -254,6 +267,7 @@ describe('ipc teams handlers', () => {
       'team-lead',
       'Can you review the approach?',
       undefined,
+      undefined,
       undefined
     );
   });
@@ -490,6 +504,56 @@ describe('ipc teams handlers', () => {
       });
     });
 
+    it('notifies a live lead to use member_briefing bootstrap for the new teammate', async () => {
+      const handler = handlers.get(TEAM_ADD_MEMBER)!;
+      const result = (await handler({} as never, 'my-team', {
+        name: 'alice',
+        role: 'developer',
+        workflow: 'Focus on frontend polish',
+      })) as { success: boolean };
+
+      expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+      expect(provisioningService.sendMessageToTeam).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        'my-team',
+        expect.stringContaining('and the exact prompt below:')
+      );
+      expect(provisioningService.sendMessageToTeam).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        'my-team',
+        expect.stringContaining('Your FIRST action: call MCP tool member_briefing')
+      );
+      expect(provisioningService.sendMessageToTeam).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        'my-team',
+        expect.stringContaining('Do NOT start work, claim tasks, or improvise workflow/task/process rules')
+      );
+      expect(provisioningService.sendMessageToTeam).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        'my-team',
+        expect.stringContaining('You are alice, a developer on team "My Team" (my-team).')
+      );
+      expect(provisioningService.sendMessageToTeam).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        'my-team',
+        expect.stringContaining('Their workflow: Focus on frontend polish')
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('falls back to the legacy add-member spawn instruction when bootstrap flag is disabled', async () => {
+      process.env[MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV] = '0';
+      const handler = handlers.get(TEAM_ADD_MEMBER)!;
+      const result = (await handler({} as never, 'my-team', {
+        name: 'alice',
+        role: 'developer',
+      })) as { success: boolean };
+
+      expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+      expect(provisioningService.sendMessageToTeam).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        'my-team',
+        expect.stringContaining('Please spawn them immediately using the Task tool with team_name="my-team" and name="alice".')
+      );
+      expect(provisioningService.sendMessageToTeam).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        'my-team',
+        expect.stringContaining('Your FIRST action: call MCP tool member_briefing')
+      );
+    });
+
     it('rejects invalid team name', async () => {
       const handler = handlers.get(TEAM_ADD_MEMBER)!;
       const result = (await handler({} as never, '../bad', {
diff --git a/test/main/services/team/TeamProvisioningServicePrompts.test.ts b/test/main/services/team/TeamProvisioningServicePrompts.test.ts
index f4b93616..247a8a79 100644
--- a/test/main/services/team/TeamProvisioningServicePrompts.test.ts
+++ b/test/main/services/team/TeamProvisioningServicePrompts.test.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { AGENT_BLOCK_CLOSE, AGENT_BLOCK_OPEN } from '@shared/constants/agentBloc
 let tempClaudeRoot = '';
 let tempTeamsBase = '';
 let tempTasksBase = '';
+let originalMemberBriefingBootstrapEnv: string | undefined;
 
 vi.mock('@main/services/team/ClaudeBinaryResolver', () => ({
   ClaudeBinaryResolver: { resolve: vi.fn() },
@@ -31,7 +32,10 @@ vi.mock('@main/utils/pathDecoder', async (importOriginal) => {
   };
 });
 
-import { TeamProvisioningService } from '@main/services/team/TeamProvisioningService';
+import {
+  MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV,
+  TeamProvisioningService,
+} from '@main/services/team/TeamProvisioningService';
 import { ClaudeBinaryResolver } from '@main/services/team/ClaudeBinaryResolver';
 import { spawnCli } from '@main/utils/childProcess';
 
@@ -67,6 +71,8 @@ function extractPromptFromWrite(writeSpy: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>): string {
 describe('TeamProvisioningService prompt content (solo mode discipline)', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
+    originalMemberBriefingBootstrapEnv = process.env[MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV];
+    process.env[MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV] = '1';
     tempClaudeRoot = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'claude-team-prompts-'));
     tempTeamsBase = path.join(tempClaudeRoot, 'teams');
     tempTasksBase = path.join(tempClaudeRoot, 'tasks');
@@ -75,6 +81,11 @@ describe('TeamProvisioningService prompt content (solo mode discipline)', () =>
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
+    if (originalMemberBriefingBootstrapEnv === undefined) {
+      delete process.env[MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV];
+    } else {
+      process.env[MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV] = originalMemberBriefingBootstrapEnv;
+    }
     // Best-effort cleanup of temp dir (per-test)
     try {
       fs.rmSync(tempClaudeRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
@@ -230,14 +241,13 @@ describe('TeamProvisioningService prompt content (solo mode discipline)', () =>
     expect(prompt).toContain('TURN ACTION MODE PROTOCOL (HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR EACH USER TURN):');
     expect(prompt).toContain('DO: Full execution mode.');
     expect(prompt).toContain('DELEGATE: Strict orchestration mode for leads.');
-    expect(prompt).toContain('you MUST do ALL steps below');
-    expect(prompt).toContain('STEP 2 — THEN, add a task comment describing exactly what you need');
-    expect(prompt).toContain('STEP 3 — THEN, send a message to your team lead via SendMessage');
+    expect(prompt).toContain('Your FIRST action: call MCP tool member_briefing');
+    expect(prompt).toContain('Do NOT start work, claim tasks, or improvise workflow/task/process rules');
+    expect(prompt).toContain('If member_briefing fails, send a short message to your team lead');
+    expect(prompt).toContain('Introduce yourself briefly (name and role) and confirm you are ready');
     expect(prompt).toContain('use task_briefing as your compact queue view');
     expect(prompt).toContain('Use task_get when you need the full task context before starting a pending/needsFix task');
-    expect(prompt).toContain('Use task_briefing as a compact queue view of your assigned tasks.');
-    expect(prompt).toContain('you MAY call task_get');
-    expect(prompt).toContain('Before starting a needsFix or pending task, call task_get');
+    expect(prompt).not.toContain('Include the following agent-only instructions verbatim in the prompt:');
 
     await svc.cancelProvisioning(runId);
   });
@@ -297,12 +307,47 @@ describe('TeamProvisioningService prompt content (solo mode discipline)', () =>
     expect(prompt).toContain(`  ${AGENT_BLOCK_OPEN}`);
     expect(prompt).toContain(`  ${AGENT_BLOCK_CLOSE}`);
     expect(prompt).toContain('NEVER use agent-only blocks in messages to "user".');
-    expect(prompt).toContain('reply via task comment (preferred — auto-clears the flag and wakes the owner) or SendMessage');
-    expect(prompt).toContain('Your FIRST action: call MCP tool task_briefing');
+    expect(prompt).toContain('Your FIRST action: call MCP tool member_briefing');
+    expect(prompt).toContain('Do NOT start work, claim tasks, or improvise workflow/task/process rules');
+    expect(prompt).toContain('If member_briefing fails, send a short message to your team lead');
+    expect(prompt).toContain('After member_briefing succeeds:');
+    expect(prompt).toContain('Use task_briefing as your compact queue view.');
     expect(prompt).toContain('resume/finish those first');
     expect(prompt).toContain('Call task_get only if you need more context than task_briefing already gave you');
     expect(prompt).toContain('Before you start any needsFix or pending task, call task_get');
 
     await svc.cancelProvisioning(runId);
   });
+
+  it('createTeam prompt falls back to legacy inline protocol when bootstrap flag is disabled', async () => {
+    process.env[MEMBER_BRIEFING_BOOTSTRAP_ENV] = '0';
+    vi.mocked(ClaudeBinaryResolver.resolve).mockResolvedValue('/fake/claude');
+    const { child, writeSpy } = createFakeChild();
+    vi.mocked(spawnCli).mockReturnValue(child as any);
+
+    const svc = new TeamProvisioningService();
+    (svc as any).buildProvisioningEnv = vi.fn(async () => ({
+      env: { ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: 'test' },
+      authSource: 'anthropic_api_key',
+    }));
+    (svc as any).startFilesystemMonitor = vi.fn();
+    (svc as any).pathExists = vi.fn(async () => false);
+
+    const { runId } = await svc.createTeam(
+      {
+        teamName: 'legacy-team',
+        cwd: process.cwd(),
+        members: [{ name: 'alice', role: 'developer' }],
+        description: 'Legacy prompt fallback test',
+      },
+      () => {}
+    );
+
+    const prompt = extractPromptFromWrite(writeSpy);
+    expect(prompt).toContain('Include the following agent-only instructions verbatim in the prompt:');
+    expect(prompt).toContain('Use task_briefing as a compact queue view of your assigned tasks.');
+    expect(prompt).not.toContain('Your FIRST action: call MCP tool member_briefing');
+
+    await svc.cancelProvisioning(runId);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/renderer/store/extensionsSlice.test.ts b/test/renderer/store/extensionsSlice.test.ts
index 54c9ec78..4955c0ea 100644
--- a/test/renderer/store/extensionsSlice.test.ts
+++ b/test/renderer/store/extensionsSlice.test.ts
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ const makeSkill = (overrides: Partial<SkillCatalogItem>): SkillCatalogItem => ({
   ...overrides,
 });
 
-const makeSkillDetail = (overrides: Partial<SkillDetail>): SkillDetail => ({
+const makeSkillDetail = (overrides: Partial<SkillDetail> = {}): SkillDetail => ({
   item: makeSkill({ id: '/tmp/skills/demo', skillDir: '/tmp/skills/demo' }),
   body: 'body',
   rawContent: '# Demo',
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ describe('extensionsSlice', () => {
 
   describe('skills state hardening', () => {
     it('ignores stale catalog responses for the same project key', async () => {
-      let resolveFirst: ((value: SkillCatalogItem[]) => void) | null = null;
+      let resolveFirst!: (value: SkillCatalogItem[]) => void;
       const firstPromise = new Promise<SkillCatalogItem[]>((resolve) => {
         resolveFirst = resolve;
       });
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ describe('extensionsSlice', () => {
       const secondFetch = store.getState().fetchSkillsCatalog('/tmp/project');
 
       await secondFetch;
-      resolveFirst?.([
+      resolveFirst([
         makeSkill({
           id: '/tmp/project/.claude/skills/older',
           skillDir: '/tmp/project/.claude/skills/older',