General
blocking and tackling
What does blocking and tackling mean?
The fundamental, routine execution that a plan depends on.
"Strategy aside, we need solid blocking and tackling to ship."
Origin
American football metaphor for fundamentals.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'blocking and tackling' mean in business?
It refers to the fundamental, unglamorous execution work that a plan depends on, as opposed to high-level strategy.
Where does the phrase come from?
It's an American football metaphor. Blocking and tackling are the basic skills every player must master before anything fancy works.
How is it used?
To stress the importance of fundamentals, e.g. 'The vision is great, but success comes down to blocking and tackling.'
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