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Step 1
Breathe. The use of breath is a crucial part of being noticed as an actor. Note how you breathe during normal conversations versus while you're performing a monologue. When you allow yourself to breathe, you allow yourself to open up to the emotions that are naturally there; breathe into them and feel them. This is a part of basic acting training, but it's also one of the easiest to forget and overlook, so if you're ever in a rut, go back to breathing for a quick and effective release.
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Step 2
Listen. Actors love to talk and talk and talk, as if speaking is the only useful thing you can do onstage. On the contrary; if you've hit a talking wall, try to utilize your listening skills instead. By opening up to what your scene partner is saying, you stop thinking about your next line and instead begin to feel a response to your partner's words. Allow this response to motivate and inform your next piece of dialog. You'll be amazed at the difference.
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Step 3
Think. Sometimes actors like to skip this step because the process for their character seems obvious. But unless they are playing a piece of cardboard, no person on stage is really that two-dimensional. Give yourself some time to peruse the dialog for clues about the character and make some of your own decisions about the way your version looks and sounds. Sometimes the things that look simple and obvious can be the most complex of all.
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Step 4
Learn. This is what acting class is for! Not only does it help newly minted performers hone their skills, but it can help the halfway-there to pick up where their last acting coach left off. Going back to the basics is helpful in all walks of life; in acting, returning to the fundamentals can make your characterization stronger, your listening better and your overall ability as good as it can possibly get.
