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Sessions in OKRs

In the context of Objectives and Key Results (OKR), a "session" refers to a specific time frame during which organizations set, track, and review their objectives and key results. You can create sessions based on your planning cycles, such as quarterly (three months), half-yearly (six months), or annually (twelve months). For example, quarterly sessions commonly follow calendar quarters: January to March, April to June, July to September, and October to December.

Sessions help teams:

  • Organize objectives within defined timeframes.
  • Track progress against quarterly or annual goals.
  • Align work across teams during specific planning periods.
  • Review and reflect on outcomes at the end of each cycle.

System administrators can create and manage sessions. All other users can use these sessions when creating their OKRs.

Prerequisites​

To add and manage sessions, you must have System administrator role.

Access Sessions​

To access sessions in OKRs:

  1. Click the hamburger menu Hamburger icon > OKRs > SE.

By default, the Sessions page shows only open (active) sessions.

View Sessions​

The Sessions page displays a table with the following columns:

ColumnDescription
NumberAuto-generated session identifier (for example, SE-01001)
NameThe session title
StateCurrent session status (Active or Closed)
BeginSession start date
EndSession end date
Created ByUser who created the session
Last Edited ByUser who last modified the session

Click any session row to open the session details drawer on the right side of the screen.

Session Details Drawer​

The drawer displays the following information:

Header:

  • Session title (for example, "2025 Personal Goal")
  • Session number (for example, SE-01002)

Details Tab:

  • Begin Date — Session start date with date picker for editing
  • End Date — Session end date with date picker for editing
  • Show More button — Expands to display additional session details

Information Section:

  • Created by — User who created the session with avatar
  • Changed by — User who last modified the session with avatar
  • Created date — Timestamp when the session was created
  • Changed date — Timestamp of the last modification

The drawer provides a focused view for reviewing and editing session details without navigating away from the Sessions list.

Session Details

Show or Hide Closed Sessions​

By default, the Sessions page displays only open (active) sessions. To view or hide closed sessions:

  1. Click the hamburger menu Hamburger icon > OKRs > SE.
  2. Toggle the Include Closed Sessions switch:
    • ON — Displays both open and closed sessions in the table
    • OFF — Displays only open sessions (default)

Result: The sessions table updates to show the selected session types.

tip

Use the Include Closed Sessions toggle to:

  • Review historical session data and outcomes.
  • Reopen a previously closed session if needed.
  • Keep your session list focused on active planning cycles.

Add a New Session​

  1. Click the hamburger menu Hamburger icon > OKRs > Sessions.
  2. Click Add Session.
  3. In the Add Session dialog box, provide the required details:
    • Title: Enter a descriptive name for the session (for example, "Q1 2025" or "2025 Annual Goals")
    • Begin Date: Select the session start date using the date picker
    • End Date: Select the session end date using the date picker
  4. Click Save.

Result: The new session is created with an Active state and appears in the Sessions list. Users can now select this session when creating their OKRs.

Validation: The system displays an error message if:

  • Required fields are empty
  • The end date is earlier than the begin date
  • Date values are invalid
Naming Conventions

Use clear, consistent naming conventions for sessions:

  • Quarterly: "Q1 2025", "Q2 2025", "Q3 2025", "Q4 2025"
  • Annual: "2025 Annual Goals", "FY2025"
  • Custom periods: "January-March 2025", "H1 2025" (first half)

Edit a Session​

To modify an existing session:

  1. Click the hamburger menu Hamburger icon > OKRs > SE.
  2. Locate the session you want to edit in the Sessions list.
  3. Click on the session row to open the session details drawer.
  4. In the Details tab, update the session information:
    • Title - Modify the session name (shown at the top of the drawer)
    • Begin Date - Change the session start date using the date picker
    • End Date - Change the session end date using the date picker
  5. Changes are saved automatically, or click Save if prompted.

Result: The session is updated with the new details. The Changed by and Changed date fields in the Information section update to reflect the modification.

Impact of Date Changes

Changing session dates affects all objectives associated with that session. Ensure the new dates align with existing OKR timelines before saving changes.

Close a Session​

When a planning period ends, close the session to mark it as complete. Closed sessions remain accessible for historical reference but cannot have new objectives added.

  1. Navigate to OKRs > SE.
  2. Locate the session you want to close.
  3. Click on the session row to open the session details drawer.
  4. Click the action menu (three vertical dots) and select Close.
  5. Confirm the closure when prompted.

Result: The session state changes to Closed. The session moves out of the default view but remains accessible when the Show Closed Sessions toggle is enabled.

Session Closure Impact
  • Existing objectives remain associated with the closed session.
  • Users cannot create new objectives for closed sessions.
  • All historical data, including objectives and key results, remains accessible.
  • Session details can still be viewed but not modified.

Best Practices​

  • Align with planning cycles: Match session dates to your organization's quarterly or annual planning rhythms.
  • Consistent naming: Use standardized naming conventions across all sessions for easy identification (for example, "Q1 2025", "Q2 2025").
  • Plan ahead: Create sessions at least 2-4 weeks before they begin to allow time for objective planning.
  • Regular reviews: Schedule mid-session check-ins to track progress and adjust key results.
  • Clean closure: Close sessions promptly after their end date to maintain clear historical records.
  • Document learnings: Use closed session data for retrospectives and future planning improvements.
  • Use Show Closed Sessions: Review historical planning periods by toggling closed sessions on.
  • Coordinate with meetings: Align session begin and end dates with company-wide planning meetings.