Delete a goal

Deleting a goal permanently removes it from Operately. This action cannot be undone, so use it carefully.

Deleting a goal#

1. Open the goal page and go to the Overview tab
2. In the sidebar, click Delete
3. Review the warning message about permanent deletion
4. Click Delete Forever to confirm

What gets deleted#

Goal details — All targets, descriptions, and settings.

Progress history — All check-ins, updates, and progress data.

Discussions — All comments and conversations related to the goal.

Activity — All activity records and audit trails.

Relationships — Links to parent goals, sub-goals, and projects.

When to delete vs. close#

Delete — Use when a goal was created by mistake, is completely irrelevant, or contains sensitive information that needs to be permanently removed.

Close — Use when a goal is complete or no longer relevant but you want to preserve the history and insights.

Considerations before deleting#

Impact on other work — Check if the goal is linked to parent goals or has sub-goals that might be affected.

Team communication — Let relevant team members know about the deletion.

Data preservation — Export any important information before deleting.

Alternative approaches — Consider closing the goal instead to preserve history.

Recovery#

Once a goal is deleted, it cannot be recovered. The deletion is permanent and affects all users who had access to the goal.