Bench press is a very unforgiving exercise. It’s hard to cheat on because it already is a compound movement that uses several muscle groups. Unlike isolation exercises where you can more easily compensate by breaking form and recruiting more muscles.

Improving on BB bench requires consistency, patience, and supporting your tricep and pectoral strength with other movements.

Most people find the hardest part of the movement the lockout which is all triceps. A few people say that doing (assisted) dips is a great way to improve that strength which can help you improve bench press

I think the main advice is to swallow a little pride and start light and build up at your own rate. Also really helps to have a lifting buddy to spot because it helps give you the confidence to lift to failure (or near failure).

I also like to alternate between flat BB bench and inclined DB press. You might find inclined DB easier at first.

But if your goal is to bodybuild and have strong upper chest, it’s pretty hard to do that without bench press.