diff --git a/conductor/workflow.md b/conductor/workflow.md
index 39821ae7..8dd5ef85 100644
--- a/conductor/workflow.md
+++ b/conductor/workflow.md
@@ -2,6 +2,22 @@
 
 ## Session Start Checklist (MANDATORY)
 
+Before any work in this repository, complete the following checks. **BLOCK PROGRESS** until all checklist items are confirmed.
+
+1. Read `AGENTS.md` (the project's top-level agent-facing rules; "Critical Anti-Patterns" section is HARD BANs).
+2. Read `conductor/workflow.md` (this file) — especially §"Code Style (MANDATORY - Python)", §"Tier 1 Track Initialization Rules", §"Task Workflow".
+3. Read `conductor/tech-stack.md` — to confirm the tech stack has not changed.
+4. Read `conductor/product.md` and `conductor/product-guidelines.md` — for product context and Core Value discipline.
+5. Check `conductor/tracks.md` for active tracks; check `conductor/chronology.md` for shipped history.
+6. Read the relevant `conductor/code_styleguides/data_oriented_design.md` (DOD + Python Type Promotion Mandate).
+7. Read the relevant `conductor/code_styleguides/python.md` (1-space indentation; Result[T] discipline).
+8. Read the relevant `conductor/code_styleguides/type_aliases.md` (per aggregate-file TypeAlias conventions).
+9. Read the relevant `conductor/code_styleguides/error_handling.md` (Result[T] + NIL_T sentinel pattern).
+10. Read the relevant `docs/guide_*.md` for the area you're working in (e.g., `guide_architecture.md`, `guide_ai_client.md`, `guide_mcp_client.md`).
+11. AST Skeleton summaries of: `./src`, `./simulation`, `./tests`, `./scripts` python files (use `manual-slop_py_get_code_outline` or `manual-slop_py_get_skeleton`).
+12. Activate the `mma-orchestrator` skill (or the appropriate tier-1/tier-2 skill per role) via the Skill tool.
+13. **Spec-first is mandatory for any creative work.** Before writing any code, scaffolding any project, or taking any implementation action for a new feature, fix, or refactor, you MUST have an approved spec (`conductor/tracks/<id>/spec.md`) and plan (`conductor/tracks/<id>/plan.md`) per §"Planning Session Workflow". Ad-hoc edits (single-line fixes, comment updates, formatting) are exempt; anything that touches 3+ files or adds new behavior requires a spec. Per `conductor/tracks/superpowers_review_20260619/report.md` §2 (PARTIAL+INTEGRATE-PARTIAL verdict for the brainstorming skill).
+
 ## Code Style (MANDATORY - Python)
 
 - **1-space indentation** for ALL Python code (NO EXCEPTIONS)