diff --git a/skills/executing-plans/SKILL.md b/skills/executing-plans/SKILL.md
index e67f94c573..f2618322f5 100644
--- a/skills/executing-plans/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/executing-plans/SKILL.md
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ For each task:
 1. Mark as in_progress
 2. Follow each step exactly (plan has bite-sized steps)
 3. Run verifications as specified
-4. Mark as completed
+4. Mark as completed in TodoWrite
+5. Update the plan file: use your file editing tool to change `- [ ]` to `- [x]` for this task
 
 ### Step 3: Complete Development
 
diff --git a/skills/subagent-driven-development/SKILL.md b/skills/subagent-driven-development/SKILL.md
index 5150b18632..ca370fc30f 100644
--- a/skills/subagent-driven-development/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/subagent-driven-development/SKILL.md
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ digraph process {
         "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [shape=box];
         "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" [shape=diamond];
         "Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" [shape=box];
-        "Mark task complete in TodoWrite" [shape=box];
+        "Mark task complete in TodoWrite and update plan file checkbox (- [ ] → - [x])" [shape=box];
     }
 
     "Read plan, extract all tasks with full text, note context, create TodoWrite" [shape=box];
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ digraph process {
     "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" -> "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?";
     "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" -> "Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" [label="no"];
     "Implementer subagent fixes quality issues" -> "Dispatch code quality reviewer subagent (./code-quality-reviewer-prompt.md)" [label="re-review"];
-    "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" -> "Mark task complete in TodoWrite" [label="yes"];
-    "Mark task complete in TodoWrite" -> "More tasks remain?";
+    "Code quality reviewer subagent approves?" -> "Mark task complete in TodoWrite and update plan file checkbox (- [ ] → - [x])" [label="yes"];
+    "Mark task complete in TodoWrite and update plan file checkbox (- [ ] → - [x])" -> "More tasks remain?";
     "More tasks remain?" -> "Dispatch implementer subagent (./implementer-prompt.md)" [label="yes"];
     "More tasks remain?" -> "Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" [label="no"];
     "Dispatch final code reviewer subagent for entire implementation" -> "Use superpowers:finishing-a-development-branch";