We all fear something. It could be public speaking, public outings, social anxiety, or anything else that makes you feel incredibly uncomfortable when you have to interact with others face-to-face. There are many reasons why we avoid social situations and it's important for us to learn how to overcome that fear because it helps us to become more confident and successful in life. Here are five ways you can overcome your fears of public speaking.

1: It's not about you.

The common element amongst all the stand-up comedians and public speakers who have battled or are battling stage fright is that they first had to convince themselves that the opinions of an audience do not matter. It's like a scientist who stops being distracted by thoughts about other scientists' opinions and instead focuses on discovering something new. I don't have to impress you; I have to make sure I present my ideas well. And even if nobody in this room agrees with me, maybe a few people will be influenced by my presentation of these ideas, and I'll have planted the seeds for future thoughts in someone's mind.

2: Understand your audience.

Ultimately, fear of public speaking is a very common thing. As you can see, many famous and powerful people have overcome their fear. By figuring out the root cause of your feelings, you can begin to understand and control them more easily. Then, when that big moment comes—your first conference talk, your wedding toast—you'll go in with a plan to win over your audience.

3: Know your subject.

If you can't find anything useful in these tips, then there's always the option of finding a friend that's good at public speaking and asking him to coach you. Or you could just practice, practice, and practice some more right before your next speech. There are plenty of small talk topics that you can work on. Anything is better than nothing. And if you do all these things right, hopefully, the next time you have to give a speech, it'll be much easier for you when you're not looking at an audience filled with strangers.

4: Start small and build up.

Public speaking is one of the most avoided fears out there, but you can beat it. If you're reading this article, chances are that you're already on a good track to overcoming it, so keep going. To build on the advice above, here's some additional information that I've compiled over the years when working with clients on this issue: learn about the physiology of fear, practice in a safe environment, and remember that your audience has their own struggles and what might be scary for you isn't for them, don't take unnecessary risks, and support from others who are willing to help.

5: Practice, practice, practice.

Let me ask you a question: do you like being in front of a crowd? Do you like talking to people? If your answer is a "no," then listen up. Most people are scared of public speaking, and that's okay. The first step to overcoming your fear is to acknowledge it. After all, the only way to beat an enemy is to know its weakness and its strengths. Speaking of strengths, what if there's another way out—if you could be confident in front of 1000 people without getting nervous? The best way to do that is through practice. I'm not saying go out and give a speech in front of 1000 people (that would be scary) but find a small audience and present something, your numbers game theory paper perhaps? Or practice at home—just connect with friends about science and debate about whether string theory will ever verify or not (one of my personal favorites). Just get comfortable with speaking, period.

Takeaway: With a little training, you can overcome your fear of public speaking and grow in confidence.

Public speaking is intimidating, and there's no denying it. But you can change that with a little old-fashioned effort. All you need to do is work on your presentation skills and practice, practice, practice. Being in front of an audience won't feel like such a foreign experience when you're used to it—and you'll learn to appreciate the praise you get once they understand that you're not just winging it. And one thing's for sure: the more you prepare in advance, the better your final performance will be.