Introduction
Deleting objectives in Rhythms is a straightforward process, though it requires confirmation to prevent accidental deletion of important OKRs. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you delete OKRs that are no longer relevant to your organization's goals.
Step 1: Accessing the Delete Function
Start from the Rhythms home screen where your existing OKRs are displayed. Choose the OKR you’d like to delete. Click the three dots (⋯) next to it and a popup menu will appear with several options. Select "Delete" at the bottom of the menu (indicated by a trash can icon)
Step 2: Deletion Process
Once you've selected "Delete," a confirmation dialog will appear with important information:
Warning message:
The system will inform you that this action will permanently delete the objective, its key results, and initiatives.
Child objectives option:
If the objective has child objectives, you'll see a checkbox labeled "Also delete its child objectives"
Check this box if you want to delete all subordinate objectives as well
Confirmation requirement:
For security, you must type "Delete objective" in the text field exactly as shown
This prevents accidental deletions of important organizational goals
Final confirmation:
Click the "Delete" button to permanently remove the objective
Alternatively, click "Cancel" to abort the deletion and return to the OKRs dashboard
Important Considerations
Permanent action: Deletion cannot be undone, so be certain before confirming
Impact assessment: Consider how deleting an objective might affect aligned teams or dependent objectives
Closed objectives: Even completed objectives (marked as "Closed") can be deleted if they're no longer needed for historical reporting
Permissions: Depending on your role, you may only be able to delete objectives you own or those within your team
Best Practices
Archive or close objectives that have been completed rather than deleting them to maintain your historical record
Before deleting, check if the objective has dependencies or is referenced in other parts of your OKR structure
Consider exporting data for record-keeping before deleting significant objectives
Communicate with stakeholders before deleting shared or high-visibility objectives
By following these steps, you can safely manage your OKR structure in Rhythms while maintaining the integrity of your goal-tracking system.