Final answer:
Your long-term goal should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These characteristics align with the SMART criteria, which helps set a clear and achievable path forward. Setting SMART goals allows for creating a practical Action Plan with a target date to track progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics that your long-term goal should have are:
- Specific - Your goal should be detailed, clear, and well-defined; it should state exactly what's expected to ensure that you have a clear direction.
- Measurable - Your goal needs to be quantifiable to track progress and to know when the goal has been accomplished.
- Attainable - It's important to set realistic and achievable goals, meaning that any barriers to the achievement of these goals can be overcome with a sound plan.
- Relevant - Your goal should align with your other aims and should make sense in the larger context of your ambitions.
- Time-bound - Establishing a specific deadline or target date adds urgency and discipline to the goal setting process.
Goals should be SMART, an acronym standing for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. By making goals SMART, they become a powerful tool to help you design an Action Plan that breaks down your long-term goals into attainable action steps. It's also essential to set a target date for each action to monitor your progress effectively.