Overview
You can be as flexible as a rubber band all day long if you want, but if the people you are dealing with remain rigid, then it won't matter how stretchy you are. The headway you make today unfortunately depends on other people. The good news is that you can choose who you spend time with -- so feel free to refuse invitations from the people who you know are going to want to do things their way. By saying no, you'll be helping them clue in to the fact that they should start being more open minded.
