In the 7S McKinsey model, which of the following is a soft element?

• A. Skills
• B. Shared Values
• C. Style
• D. Staff

Answer: (C)

In the McKinsey 7S model, soft elements are the people-oriented aspects: Shared Values, Skills, Style, and Staff. Style specifically captures leadership approach, behavior, and the way the organization’s culture is enacted through daily actions, decisions, and communication. Because it reflects how people behave and how culture is lived—not something you can directly measure like a structure or system—it’s considered a soft element. While Shared Values describe the underlying beliefs, Skills are the capabilities of individuals, and Staff refers to the people themselves, Style remains the clearest example of how leadership behavior embodies the soft, cultural side of the organization.