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Now, I'm not saying you are rubbish...
How do you give people criticism without it coming across too negative and upsetting them?
One of the problems with volunteer management is how you effectively give criticism. People see other volunteers as on the same level and don't understand what right these people have to tell them what to do.
This is particularly true in student radio - you get an 18-year-old fresher who's been doing hospital radio for a few years and can't stand some second-year student telling them what do to despite the fact they've been doing radio less than 12 months.
Make sure you always sound really positive when you give feedback. "You've obviously got loads of enthusiasm and that's fantastic, but let's look at a couple of things we could change to make you sound better on air..."
Always start with a positive. "I really like your music mix / your production skills / your content". And end it on a high. "You're a real asset to the station / if you work at it you'll go far."
Make sure you give practical tips to improve. Don't say "your delivery is rubbish." but "here's how to slow your voice down"
One way in is to take it outside the station. Say something along the lines of "I know this programme controller who I reckon could give you some good feedback on your tape" and give it to someone at work. The point is that there is not a connection between the critic and the volunteer manager.
I once had to email a volunteer who was (a) very enthusiast but (b) rubbish on air. I sent it to him just before the summer vacation and he obviously worked on what I'd said and I'm glad to say he's one of the station's brightest hopes and I would happily put money on him being professional on-air talent in the not too distant future.
And don't take it all so seriously. A few jokes, at your expense, tend to break the ice and make whoever you are giving criticism to realise that you are actually quite a decent person.