diff --git a/claude_bottle/cli/dashboard.py b/claude_bottle/cli/dashboard.py
index 296b51a..00011b4 100644
--- a/claude_bottle/cli/dashboard.py
+++ b/claude_bottle/cli/dashboard.py
@@ -1356,6 +1356,11 @@ def _main_loop(stdscr: "curses._CursesWindow") -> None:
     # pre-existing queue entries on its first poll; those
     # shouldn't ring the bell as if they just arrived.
     saw_first_tick = False
+    # The dashboard's own tmux pane id (tmux sets `$TMUX_PANE`
+    # per-pane). Captured at startup so a new-proposal arrival
+    # can `tmux select-pane` back to the dashboard from
+    # whatever pane the operator is currently in.
+    dashboard_pane_id = os.environ.get("TMUX_PANE", "")
     while True:
         pending = discover_pending()
         if selected >= len(pending):
@@ -1367,16 +1372,29 @@ def _main_loop(stdscr: "curses._CursesWindow") -> None:
 
         now = time.monotonic()
         live_ids = {qp.proposal.id for qp in pending}
-        # Detect proposals we've never seen before — used to ring
-        # the terminal bell (so tmux's monitor-bell or the
-        # terminal's own bell-on-activity surface a notice when
-        # the operator isn't looking at the dashboard pane).
+        # Detect proposals we've never seen before. Triggers:
+        #   - terminal bell (`curses.beep` → tmux's monitor-bell)
+        #   - tmux focus jump to the dashboard pane (so the
+        #     operator notices even if they were typing at claude)
+        #   - dashboard's internal focus flip to the proposals
+        #     pane (so j/k navigates the queued items immediately)
         newly_arrived = live_ids - first_seen.keys()
         if saw_first_tick and newly_arrived:
             try:
                 curses.beep()
             except curses.error:
                 pass
+            if dashboard_pane_id and _in_tmux():
+                _tmux_select_pane(dashboard_pane_id)
+            focus = PANE_PROPOSALS
+            # Land the cursor on the first new proposal so the
+            # operator can act immediately. Proposals are sorted
+            # by arrival_timestamp ascending; find the lowest
+            # index whose id is in `newly_arrived`.
+            for i, qp in enumerate(pending):
+                if qp.proposal.id in newly_arrived:
+                    selected = i
+                    break
         for proposal_id in live_ids:
             first_seen.setdefault(proposal_id, now)
         for stale_id in list(first_seen.keys() - live_ids):