Don't let a little thing like ignorance stand in the way of success. Whether you’ve exaggerated your talents, recently been promoted, switched sector or simply been told to impress on a new venture — and you don’t have a clue — don’t panic. Provided you know how to wing it, you’ll do just fine. Here’s our guide:

1. You are not alone. If you fear being outed as an incompetent idiot, join the club. It’s called imposter syndrome, according to Octavius Black, the managing director of The Mind Gym. “The idea is that we all think that we aren’t up to the job,” he says. Be comforted by the fact that everyone else suffers from paranoia too.

2. Exude confidence. If you are put on the spot and expected to spout business truths, don’t panic. “Generally keep smiling and look like you are enjoying yourself,” Black says. “People will assume that you know what you are doing.”

3. Ask questions. Neville Howard, a partner in consulting at Deloitte, says that consultants are frequently looked up to as the experts. “It’s a real challenge,” he says. “In any kind of business exchange if you are dealing in an area of uncertainty, asking simple, open questions can get you a long way. Ask, ‘Why is this so important?’ for example.”

4. Ask more questions. “People love talking,” Black says. “If they’re busy answering your questions, they won’t be able to probe you to find out your knowledge.” Or rather, the lack of it.

5. Know your limits. If you don’t know the answer to a direct question, don’t wing it. Repeat the question to show that you’ve understood it, then outline what steps you will take to get all the relevant information. You’ll sound authoritative, not lost for words, Black says.

6. Check your information. “It’s really good to reflect back what you hear using simple language to make sure that you understand what is being asked of you,” Howard says. That way, you make sure that you are on the right track.

7. Do your own research. No project, question or problem is ever unique. “So often I see people struggling to reinvent the wheel,” Howard says. “They don’t look at how other businesses have dealt with the same issues before. You can usually find a parallel somewhere.”

8. Indirectly ask for help. If your manager sets you a brain-teaser, go to colleagues and ask for their advice, Black says. “I would probably flatter them.” Tell them that you know they are in the boss’s confidence, then pick their brains. “Go back to your manager with two or three options and ask him to guide you. That way you get more information.”

9. Use your teammates. “It’s amazing how often I’m in meetings when a team is faced with a new challenge and no one thinks to ask if anyone has relevant past experience,” Howard says. “All too often it turns out that the quiet person at the end of the room has done the exact same thing twice before.”

10. Grin and bear it. Working at the boundaries of your knowledge can be an uncomfortable, stomach-churning experience, but it’s not all bad. “It can be beneficial,” says Nicola Monson, a research associate at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. “It’s good for your morale and stretches you that bit further, which contributes to your development.” Now, repeat after me: no two days are ever the same.

Find out more

Read more about imposter syndrome in The Mind Gym: Wake Your Mind Up (£12.99)

When it really matters, stop bluffing. First-time managers should read Becoming the Boss, by Linda A. Hill, first published in Harvard Business Review (Jan). Download it for £3.60 ($7.00) at www.hbsp.harvard.edu/products/hbr/index.html

But don’t worry, winging it is not the same as bulls***ting. “It’s about dealing with a little knowledge and a lot of uncertainty in a positive way,” Neville Howard says. Steer conversation towards safer ground by talking about what you do know rather than acknowledging that which you don’t. Repeating information that you have gleaned from other people will also make you sound more expert, says Octavius Black.

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