Product Managers (PMs) focus on the tactical: managing one product, working with cross-functional teams, and obsessing over customer feedback.Product Leaders (PLs) oversee the strategic: managing teams of PMs, setting a long-term vision, and aligning products with business goals.Titles vary (and confuse everyone), but the key difference boils down to this: PMs manage products, while PLs manage people.Product Managers are the unsung heroes of the product world. They translate vision into action and strategy into sprints.At their core, the difference between a Product Manager and a Product Leader is scope and focus.If you’re a PM eyeing the Product Leader role, focus on stepping back from the details and learning to think in terms of people and strategy.To excel as a Lead Product Manager, master the art of balancing tactical execution with strategic oversight.Product Managers and Product Leaders are both crucial to an organization’s success, but their roles are fundamentally different.If you’re someone with a new “product” in their title who’s a little lost, this article helps you understand your specific role a bit better.Leadership isn’t just about managing—it’s about inspiring.