---
title: "Run and Monitor Work - Agent Teams Docs"
description: "Learn how to brief the lead, read the task board, use messages and comments, open task details, and keep agent work moving."
---

# Run and Monitor Work

After the team launches, your job is to keep the work visible, scoped, and reviewable. The board is the main operating surface.

## 1. Brief the lead clearly

The lead needs a goal that can be split into tasks. Include:

- the outcome
- the allowed files or product area
- what not to touch
- verification commands
- when to ask for review

Good brief:

```text
Create a beginner docs path. Keep edits inside landing/product-docs. Add screenshots where they clarify actions. Do not touch runtime code. Run `pnpm --dir landing docs:build` before marking tasks complete.
```

Weak brief:

```text
Improve docs.
```

The weak brief can work, but it gives the lead too much freedom and makes review harder.

## 2. Read the board by lane

<ZoomImage src="/screenshots/guides/task-board-annotated.png" alt="Annotated task board with messages, kanban lanes, review cards, and task list" caption="Use the board to scan messages, task state, review-ready work, and the right-side task list without opening raw files." />

| Lane | What it means | What you should do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Todo | Tasks exist but are not active yet. | Check whether task titles are specific enough. |
| In Progress | A teammate is actively working. | Watch for updates and avoid assigning duplicate work. |
| Review | Work needs inspection. | Open the task and review changes. |
| Done | Work is completed but may still need review flow. | Confirm review state before trusting it. |
| Approved | Review passed. | Treat as completed output. |

## 3. Use messages and comments deliberately

Use task comments for task-specific context:

```text
Please keep this task scoped to the quickstart page. Do not change runtime setup wording in this pass.
```

Use direct messages for coordination:

```text
Lead, pause new task creation until the current review queue is cleared.
```

Prefer task comments when possible. They stay attached to the work and make review easier.

## 4. Open task detail when a card needs attention

Open the task detail when:

- the title is too vague
- the task has been in progress too long
- the task is ready for review
- the output mentions files you did not expect
- you need to inspect attachments, changes, or logs

<ZoomImage src="/screenshots/guides/task-detail-annotated.png" alt="Annotated task detail view with description, attachments, changes, and execution logs" caption="Task detail is where you confirm the task scope, attached context, changed files, and runtime evidence." />

## 5. Keep work unblocked

If a teammate is blocked, ask for the smallest next step:

```text
Post the blocker, the file or command involved, and the next action you need from the lead or user.
```

If the task is too large, ask the lead to split it:

```text
Split this into separate tasks for copy edits, screenshot assets, and navigation updates. Keep each task independently reviewable.
```

## 6. Decide when to stop the team

Stop or pause when:

- the review queue is larger than you can inspect
- the lead creates vague tasks repeatedly
- runtime errors appear in multiple tasks
- agents start editing unrelated files
- verification is missing from completed work

You can always relaunch after tightening the brief.

Next: [Review and approve](/guide/review-and-approve).