Rhythms OKR Permissions Configuration, User Access, and Troubleshooting Guide

Last updated: April 6, 2026

Configure OKR permissions, guide user access, and troubleshoot permission related issues in Rhythms.

Permissions in Rhythms can be customized at the organization, team, and individual levels to control who can create, edit, and manage OKRs. This guide explains how to configure these permissions and troubleshoot common access issues.

Understanding OKR Permissions

Rhythms enables granular permission control across three organizational levels: organization-wide, team-specific, and individual contributor OKRs. The system manages three distinct permission types:

  • Create — Authorization to establish new OKRs

  • Manage — Ability to delete OKRs, reassign ownership, and modify delegate assignments

  • Edit — Capacity to update content, track progress, and execute check-ins

These permissions function independently, allowing organizations to permit broad progress tracking while restricting deletion rights.

Organization-Level OKR Permissions

Organization-level OKRs represent company-wide strategic objectives without team assignment.

Default Configuration:

  • Create: Admins exclusively

  • Manage: Admins exclusively

  • Edit: Admins exclusively

Creation Permission Options:

  • Admins only (default)

  • Team Owners and Admins

  • All organization members

Management and Edit Permission Options:

  • Admins only (default)

  • All organization members

Automatic Full Access Holders:

  • Rhythms Administrators possess unrestricted access to all organizational OKRs

  • OKR Owners maintain complete control of their owned OKRs

  • OKR Creators retain full access regardless of ownership transfers

  • Delegates receive edit-only access (management restricted)

Team-Level OKR Permissions

Team-level OKRs are assigned to specific teams within the organizational structure.

Default Configuration:

  • Create: Team owners of the relevant OKR's team

  • Manage: Team owners of the relevant OKR's team

  • Edit: Team owners of the relevant OKR's team

Important: "OKR's team owners" refers specifically to owners of teams linked to that particular OKR, not all organizational team owners.

Available Permission Options for Create, Manage, and Edit:

  • Admins exclusively

  • OKR's team owners (default for manage/edit)

  • OKR's team members

  • All organization members

Automatic Full Access Holders:

  • Rhythms Administrators receive unrestricted access across all organizational OKRs

  • OKR Owners control OKRs they own

  • OKR Creators maintain full access even after ownership reassignment

  • Delegates access edit functions exclusively (management prohibited)

Team Owner Access Details:

Team Owners automatically access OKRs they own or create. For other team OKRs, access depends on configured permissions:

  • When edit permissions specify "OKR's team owners," team owners can edit OKRs for teams listing them as owners

  • When set to "Admins only," Team Owners can only edit OKRs they own or created, not their entire team's OKR portfolio

Individual OKR Permissions

Individual OKRs represent personal objectives created by individual contributors.

Default Configuration:

  • Create: All organization members (not configurable)

  • Manage: All organization members

  • Edit: All organization members

Creation Permission Options:

  • All organization members (sole available option)

Management and Edit Permission Options:

  • OKR owners exclusively

  • All organization members (default)

Automatic Full Access Holders:

  • Rhythms Administrators possess unrestricted access across all organizational OKRs

  • OKR Owners control their owned OKRs completely

  • OKR Creators retain full access regardless of ownership changes

  • Delegates maintain edit access only (management restricted)

Check-In Permissions

Check-ins are controlled by edit permissions, not manage permissions.

Check-In Authorization:

  • OKR owners can perpetually check in on their OKRs

  • Delegates authorized to specific OKRs can check in (delegates possess edit access)

  • Users with edit access permissions per that OKR level can check in

Management permissions do not automatically enable check-in capabilities. Users require edit permissions or must be the OKR owner/assigned delegate.

Visibility Versus Permissions

Permission settings control authorization for creating, editing, or managing OKRs users can already access. Limited visibility OKRs require explicit visibility access before any permission rules apply.

Configuring Permissions

Rhythms Administrators access permission settings via: Settings > OKRs > Permissions

The interface displays three tabs (Organization, Team, Individual) with three permission dropdowns beneath each:

  • Who can create

  • Who can manage

  • Who can edit

Configuration changes take immediate effect across all OKRs at that level when users perform relevant actions. Existing OKR ownership and creator records remain unaffected.

Managing Users in Rhythms

Adding Users:

Rhythms Administrators can add organization-wide users. Team Owners can add members to their specific teams. Rhythms Administrators can leverage SSO and SCIM integrations (when available) to automate user provisioning for large-scale organizations.

Deactivating Users:

Rhythms Administrators can deactivate departed organization members. Deactivated users lose login access while their OKRs and associated data persist. Reactivation remains available when needed.

Creating Teams:

Rhythms Administrators create teams and assign Team Owners and members within the organizational structure.

Using Roles and Permissions as an End User

As an organizational Member, the most prevalent end-user role, individuals can leverage Rhythms effectively:

Creating OKRs:

Members can perpetually create individual OKRs. Organization settings may permit team-level or organization-level OKR creation. Verify permitted access with Team Owners or your Rhythms Administrator.

Checking In on OKRs:

Members owning or delegated to OKRs can update progress information. Edit access authorization (based on permission settings) enables check-ins. Without edit access, members retain visibility of updates created by others (when visibility access exists).

Team Collaboration:

Members can view team OKRs (based on visibility settings) and align individual OKRs to team or organization OKRs, ensuring work contributes to broader organizational goals. Edit access typically belongs to owner/creator roles, delegates, or organizations permitting broad edit access.

Understanding Access Limitations:

"Permission Denied" messages typically indicate permission settings or restricted visibility. Refer to the troubleshooting section below for specific resolution guidance.

Best Practices for Rhythms Permissions

  • Restrict Administrative Access: Reserve the Rhythms Administrator role exclusively for trusted IT personnel to maintain security integrity.

  • Strategic OKR Creation: Employ restrictive settings ("Admins only" or "Team Owners") for organization-level OKR creation to maintain strategic alignment from leadership.

  • Balanced Permission Architecture: Permit extensive edit access (enabling team progress tracking) while restricting management permissions (preventing accidental deletion).

  • Delegate Assignment: Use delegates to help OKR owners maintain current goals without transferring complete ownership.

  • Aligned Check-In Scheduling: Establish regular OKR check-ins (weekly or monthly) matching organizational business rhythms to ensure consistent progress monitoring.

  • Access Audits: Periodically review user roles and permissions to confirm alignment with organizational structure and requirements.

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