diff --git a/backend/app/api/approvals.py b/backend/app/api/approvals.py
index 723444c0..511d92e1 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/approvals.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/approvals.py
@@ -394,10 +394,13 @@ async def create_approval(
     _actor: ActorContext = ACTOR_DEP,
 ) -> ApprovalRead:
     """Create an approval for a board."""
+    payload_dict = payload.payload
+    if payload_dict is None and isinstance(payload.lead_reasoning, str) and payload.lead_reasoning.strip():
+        payload_dict = {"reason": payload.lead_reasoning.strip()}
     task_ids = normalize_task_ids(
         task_id=payload.task_id,
         task_ids=payload.task_ids,
-        payload=payload.payload,
+        payload=payload_dict,
     )
     task_id = task_ids[0] if task_ids else None
     if payload.status == "pending":
@@ -411,7 +414,7 @@ async def create_approval(
         task_id=task_id,
         agent_id=payload.agent_id,
         action_type=payload.action_type,
-        payload=payload.payload,
+        payload=payload_dict,
         confidence=payload.confidence,
         rubric_scores=payload.rubric_scores,
         status=payload.status,
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/approvals.py b/backend/app/schemas/approvals.py
index 80ebadb9..6f36be41 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas/approvals.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/approvals.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from datetime import datetime
 from typing import Literal, Self
 from uuid import UUID
 
-from pydantic import model_validator
+from pydantic import AliasChoices, Field as PydanticField, model_validator
 from sqlmodel import Field, SQLModel
 
 ApprovalStatus = Literal["pending", "approved", "rejected"]
@@ -49,9 +49,18 @@ class ApprovalCreate(ApprovalBase):
 
     agent_id: UUID | None = None
 
+    # Back-compat + ergonomics: some clients send lead reasoning as a top-level
+    # field (`reasoning` / `lead_reasoning`) rather than nesting under payload.reason.
+    lead_reasoning: str | None = PydanticField(
+        default=None,
+        validation_alias=AliasChoices("lead_reasoning", "reasoning", "leadReasoning"),
+    )
+
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def validate_lead_reasoning(self) -> Self:
         """Ensure each approval request includes explicit lead reasoning."""
+        if isinstance(self.lead_reasoning, str) and self.lead_reasoning.strip():
+            return self
         payload = self.payload
         if isinstance(payload, dict):
             reason = payload.get("reason")
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_approvals_schema.py b/backend/tests/test_approvals_schema.py
index da7a58ea..11b1ffdf 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_approvals_schema.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_approvals_schema.py
@@ -38,6 +38,17 @@ def test_approval_create_requires_lead_reasoning() -> None:
         )
 
 
+def test_approval_create_accepts_top_level_reasoning_alias() -> None:
+    model = ApprovalCreate.model_validate(
+        {
+            "action_type": "task.update",
+            "confidence": 80,
+            "reasoning": "Lead says OK.",
+        },
+    )
+    assert model.lead_reasoning == "Lead says OK."
+
+
 def test_approval_create_accepts_nested_decision_reason() -> None:
     model = ApprovalCreate.model_validate(
         {