My answer, and I see this a lot from other photogs much better than myself, is to shoot a lot of pictures and change the way you look at light and composition.
Want to get better fast?
Find a day-long event with a lot of people in a lot of situations and make pictures. Go indoors, outdoors, bright sun, shade... all over the place. Then think about each place you are shooting and how to make something good there. It won't always happen, but it makes you think differently.
I shoot a lot of photos for my church. I see my abilities and equipment as a gift from God, and something to share, so it affords me the opportunity to give back while also honing skills. And that is good.
One caveat... If you do this with the purpose of thinking photographically, you will also not be participating as much in the event you are photographing. Rather, you are participating, but not directly. Two years from now, much of what people will remember from the event will be the photos that remain.
Here is a quick set of my favorites from an event we held last weekend, as an example.
The setup is an outdoor church service, a giant meal, followed by indoor and outdoor activities for all ages including sports, games, music, etc. etc.
For me.. one camera (6D) two lenses (24-70 and 70-200) and several bottles of water.
For me.. one camera (6D) two lenses (24-70 and 70-200) and several bottles of water.
Early morning, partly cloudy, cold, set-up and practice by the band. Layers. Trees. Sun. Expression... Push the button.
Good shady light? Isolate the subject on a darker background. Push button.
Now get closer. Invade people's space a little bit. Follow the advice of Robert Capa. "If your photos aren't good enough, you aren't close enough."
And what's going on indoors? Introduction of a new youth pastor and his family? OK, change all of the camera settings, wait for an expression. Push button.
Think documentary purposes... and unique angles. Climb stairs. Shoot wide...
Did I mention puffy clouds on blue sky? Push button.
Lunch is served. Giant window light, Yay! Change camera settings. Try to get some unique angle and an expression. Push button.
Back outside. Occasional bright sun followed by cloud cover. Ride the shutter speed. Basketball, volleyball. Don't forget to change to continuous autofocus. Timing. Push the button.
Move around a lot but on purpose. Stop dead in your tracks because one of the most wonderful old guys you know has paused for a reflective moment on the sidewalk. Push the button. I wish for all the world Mr. Lyons was standing out on the grass with trees in the background.
Think up a challenge like: Can I take a picture of a person flying a kite that includes the kite and the persons face? Then wait for it... push the button.
Back inside. Change settings. Dominoes going on. Expression. Push the button. Don't give in to the players who want to see pictures of the other players' dominoes.
Back outside.. it's basketball. Harsh shadows making silhouettes on the ground? Cool. Put them in the picture. Or just take pictures of the silhouettes.. whatever. Push the button.
Those shadows are good elsewhere too...
Busy backgrounds all around.. oh wait, we still have nifty clouds. Throw horseshoe. Push button.
Now keep doing that for a while and just wear yourself out. That should do it.
Get permission from your significant other first. Especially if taking all of these pictures means you won't be helping out much with a toddler or, say, eating together.
Seriously, it changes the way you look at situations and forces you to pay attention to camera settings, people's faces and everything that is going into your pictures.
All told, with a few breaks worked in throughout the day, I shot for about 10 hours in just about every situation imaginable (except studio lighting etc). That is good practice!
Pick an event. Let people know you will be there with a camera. And shoot away.
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