Hack Your Bureaucracy

Ask for feedback instead of permission. Most people aren’t going to be the first villager to give you carrots, but many will opine on their favorite flavor of soup or how to best make a soup. Ask for feedback on your project, acting as if it is going to happen and you want advice on the best way for it to happen. If people provide useful feedback, incorporate it into your project, thanking them for their contributions. Even if they haven’t given permission or resources, you can mention their input to other groups to build social capital.